Sins of a Solar Empire

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 317 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 245 out of 317
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 317
  3. Negative: 29 out of 317
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  1. Discord
    May 19, 2012
    9
    An excellent strategy game, with great amounts of variety, especially in the upcoming Rebellion expansion. Controls take a little bit to get the hang of, but after that it's fun as can be. Only drawback is the lack of a single-player campaign, but I believe that's being worked on in the Rebellion expansion as well. The other two expansions, Entrenchment and Diplomacy, add differentAn excellent strategy game, with great amounts of variety, especially in the upcoming Rebellion expansion. Controls take a little bit to get the hang of, but after that it's fun as can be. Only drawback is the lack of a single-player campaign, but I believe that's being worked on in the Rebellion expansion as well. The other two expansions, Entrenchment and Diplomacy, add different technologies and structures while still building on the backstory to the game itself. In place of single-player campaigns, it has multiple scenarios in varying sizes. Without a doubt a fun strategy game.… Expand
  2. theirrelephants
    May 15, 2016
    9
    Great rts strategy game. Only two downsides: One is that there is no single player campaign and the trailer made me want one, badly.

    The second is that multiplayer games can drag on for very, very long in a large galaxy.

    All the factions are well balanced, the graphics are good, and if you put the AI on insane and let it cheat beyond belief you can even pretend that it's somewhat competent.
  3. Andrew
    Oct 6, 2008
    10
    To Start off this game is by no means a short game, or a game that is meant to use a quick rush. You must be thoughtful and tactical to accomplish what you want in this game and with the three different races there is enough differences to make you use a different strategy while still keeping the game balanced. Another Plus is that this game is that you can play an epic space game on aTo Start off this game is by no means a short game, or a game that is meant to use a quick rush. You must be thoughtful and tactical to accomplish what you want in this game and with the three different races there is enough differences to make you use a different strategy while still keeping the game balanced. Another Plus is that this game is that you can play an epic space game on a budget. I am playing this game below specs and it still runs smooth on medium, so there are no requirements like crysis to play a cool game. It is a very deep game making you choose where you put you defensive structures, because you can only have so many on any planet. The best part of all is that you can design your own star systems to play using galaxy forge and that it is that you can mod the game. The only downside i can possibly see is that the game is TOO epic, but me liking massive long drawn out wars of survival in space while staying un-dumb downed and not to complex. I love this game and if you like epic drawn out space battles for the survival of your people and see epic space battles close up then this is your game. and Long Live the Unity.… Expand
  4. ChunkySaurus
    Aug 12, 2012
    8
    An excellent 4X type game. You really get the sense of massive ships blasting each other apart. Games take a very long time to play out, but if you enjoy the genre this won't matter. The graphics are decent, I really enjoy the multiple independent guns on the capitol ships.

    The big drawback is that there is no single player campaign.
  5. superecnate
    Feb 6, 2012
    10
    How is it possible not to like this game?! Well, maybe multiplayer junkies. Epic space battles, uber campaings (sure they are technicly skirmish games, just get over it!). Who doesn't like an uber battles between multi-hundred ship super-fleets?! This game lives up to its discription. EPIC!!!
  6. RayC.
    Feb 11, 2008
    9
    Apart from the plagiarizing of many aspects from an older game called Hegomonia, this game is awesome. It kind of feels like the Total War series, but with space combat in lieu of medieval times. Though Total War is turned base and Sins is not, it still has that same
  7. GrantL.
    Feb 9, 2008
    10
    Just awesome. Need I say more?
  8. vXxo0oxXv
    Jan 24, 2011
    9
    No amount of words could possibly describe how epic this game is. Play it. Get the torrent if you want. You will end up buying it. A truly spectacular creation.
  9. Delta_Assault
    Sep 22, 2011
    9
    This game kicks ass. It's pretty much a combination of Homeworld 2 and any regular 4X space empire game. You could also see it as a space version of Supreme Commander, it's goddamn epic. Like, battles with fleets of over 200 ships.

    Plus, there's absolutely no DRM, if you know what I mean. While I describe it as Supreme Commander in Space, Sins has a much better UI. Supreme Commander    This game kicks ass. It's pretty much a combination of Homeworld 2 and any regular 4X space empire game. You could also see it as a space version of Supreme Commander, it's goddamn epic. Like, battles with fleets of over 200 ships.

    Plus, there's absolutely no DRM, if you know what I mean. While I describe it as Supreme Commander in Space, Sins has a much better UI. Supreme Commander wasn't all that great IMO because the pacing was slow as hell and you had to individually upgrade all the tiny little resource poiints which really got annoying. You also do a lot of teching in Sins but it's all very easy and intuitive, without feeling like a chore.

    The only thing this game lacks is a singleplayer campaign with a storyline, but the open sandbox levels do an adequate job.    … Expand
  10. LordMandalore
    Nov 23, 2011
    10
    The amount of depth, strategy, and amour of stuff you can do in this game is mind boggling. While the story is limited and there is no campaign, Sins offers endless hours of galactic warfare, and getting the Trinity version deepens the experience further. There is also a large modding community and an upcoming expansion on the way!
  11. MarkusE.
    Feb 14, 2008
    9
    RTS meets 4X in space. Looks deceptively simple, but there is a lot to it. Massive fleet battles that are still controllable by the player without descending into confusion. Good choice of races. No SP campaing but the devs are working on it I think. Great community - this game will have tons of mods and the devs offer the best support seen in a long time. Well done!
  12. MattB.
    Jun 30, 2008
    9
    This game accomplishes everything ironclad games designed it to do, it has a slight learning curve with the GUI but other than that its good my only complaint and thusly the reason i only gave it a ten was due to its lack of single player storyline their is none literally this game was intentionally built as multiplayer even though it possesses a single player option.
  13. JoeF
    Sep 6, 2008
    9
    A truly epic strategy game. Though it takes elements from 4X, it is essentially an RTS at much bigger scale. Fans of more generic RTS games like C&C will need to have half a brain, though. Lack of a "campaign" is of little consequence (does anyone complain that the Civ games don't have campaigns?), though the races and backstory are a bit clichéd.
  14. KevinR
    Sep 1, 2009
    10
    This is one of the greatest Strategy games of all time. The 4X combo of RTS battles along with civ building make this game utterly addicting, and at the same time fulfilling.
  15. MatthewB.
    Feb 13, 2008
    8
    Seems at first sight like a flawed masterpiece. I think the problem is that it's tried to throw all the best bits of RTS and 4X into a melting pot in the hope it can create something new and bright. It kind of works. But for me lacks the speed and adrenaline of a good RTS, and the thoughtfulness of a 4X. 10/10 for effort and trying to break the mold!
  16. WilliamL.
    Feb 4, 2008
    10
    Excellent hybrid of the 4X and RTS genres. Great fun for anyone from a seasoned RTS or 4X veteran to a newcomer to either or both genres. Absolutely worth playing if you're at all interested in it.
  17. [Anonymous]
    Feb 4, 2008
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing, I have played the beta which has about half of what the final product has and it has kept me busy for months.
  18. AllanH.
    Feb 7, 2008
    10
    One of the best games I have played in a very long time. Space RTS with more of a focus on the Tactical side than the strategy side. Add to this elements of the 4X genre and Ironclad have made themselves a winner. Don't expect to see the typical "zerg" type rushes in this game. Its all about tactics, strategies and also careful and cunning planing. With the inclusion of a MP save One of the best games I have played in a very long time. Space RTS with more of a focus on the Tactical side than the strategy side. Add to this elements of the 4X genre and Ironclad have made themselves a winner. Don't expect to see the typical "zerg" type rushes in this game. Its all about tactics, strategies and also careful and cunning planing. With the inclusion of a MP save this will make playing those epic games possible.… Expand
  19. Geoff
    Apr 9, 2008
    9
    Seems like it marrys the complex & simple thing very well, which makes it a great strategy game. The UI is very easy to understand, left click means add 1 to que, right click means subtract 1 from que. Getting used to the sidebar is a pain for your first game, but otherwise it would be far too difficult to play effectively with the large scale, and once you get used to it the game becomes Seems like it marrys the complex & simple thing very well, which makes it a great strategy game. The UI is very easy to understand, left click means add 1 to que, right click means subtract 1 from que. Getting used to the sidebar is a pain for your first game, but otherwise it would be far too difficult to play effectively with the large scale, and once you get used to it the game becomes much eaiser. Very good graphics, not the best, but very good, and since it blends RTS with a small bit of turn based (so small you wont notice it in the game engine), lower end computers can handle the large scale when they would otherwise not be able to, ala Supreme Commander. Very fun, has only a few minor sound flaws, and very very addictive. 10 for Graphics, scale, UI, new UI invetions like the auto-building placer, unit design, and "campy" additude towards the game that make it fun. -1 for a few overly-acted sounds (I blame the voice directors), and the 2nd or 3rd game required learning curve, (getting used to the UI sidebar, and how to actually play - you pretty much get thrown into a game, with only minor direction on how the game mechanics work).… Expand
  20. BarisK
    Jan 10, 2009
    10
    A perfect game. It's just like those games that stay installed on your computer for years, and whenever you're bored with what you're playing, you can just engage in a breath-taking space battle or two.
  21. BrunoT.
    Jan 26, 2010
    9
    Best space RTS ever... score only 9 because of single core and 32 bits limitation... so big scale game can lead to slowdown or out of memory on the biggest map... anyway, it remain a top game
  22. MatthewH.
    Feb 13, 2008
    9
    Fantastic. Steep learning curve but seriously worth it - once you've played a couple of games you'll forget the other RTSs in your collection.
  23. Chris
    Feb 24, 2008
    9
    An incredibly fun and enjoyable RTS that doesn
  24. AnonymousMC
    Feb 20, 2008
    10
    Calling this game revolutionary would be an understatement.

    Stardock brought real time strategy into the 4x Genre. A task that most people would have deemed impossible. And they pulled it off and did so with retaining most of the complexity while merging it with the fluent natural gameplay of real time games. One can only be astonished.
  25. JoeF.
    Feb 4, 2008
    8
    Its a very good game but not the most amazing I have every played. I think that I need to be better at it before I can rank it any higher. But it is WELL worth your money.
  26. CP
    Feb 5, 2008
    10
    A spectacular game that produces incredible gameplay with minimal system specs. An excellent game worthy of any strategy/RTS fans hard earned credits/tiberium/what have you.
  27. LiamM.
    Feb 5, 2008
    10
    Great advancement of the 4x Genre and the RTS genre; the game has some growing to do but Ironclad appear to be willing to do that with this game.
  28. RichardL.
    Feb 6, 2008
    9
    Brilliant game that, like GalCiv(+2) before it requires only a few tweaks to become perfect!
  29. JonathanW.
    Feb 7, 2008
    10
    A little bit of a learning curve is involved, but once you get past that you'll be rewarded with an excellent RTS/turn-based 4X hybrid. The scaling system like that used in 'Supreme Commander' is well suited here, and makes a potentially cumbersome game work great! Definitely worth the time and money.
  30. AugustZ.
    Feb 8, 2008
    9
    Outstanding. Stardock proves again that they have their finger on the pulse of strategy gamers. Combining the best elements of Galactic Civs 2 and RTS, they have crafted a unique, immensely enjoyable game that fans of either will be able to lose themselves in for hours.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best PC Game of 2008
22
#22 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
16
#16 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. GameDaily
    80
    Sins of a Solar Empire combines the depth of traditional turn-based games like Civilization with the action of real-time strategy (RTS) games like Command & Conquer. The result is a rich and highly detailed game that pleases fans of both types of strategy.
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  2. Game Almighty
    90
    Sins of a Solar Empire makes no apologies for being ambitiously massive and deep.
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  3. GamesRadar+
    90
    With most RTS games shifting towards fast action at the expense of real strategy, it would be an unforgivable sin for a strategy fan to pass by this game on the shelf and not pick it up.
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