StarDrive 2

 PC
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Hooked Gamers
    Apr 12, 2015
    87
    StarDrive 2 does not dethrone Master of Orion 2 as the best 4X game in space ever made, but damn it gets close. It is almost as deep, it almost has the same rich atmosphere and almost that same inspired gameplay. That may not sound uplifting, but considering the bar we’re looking at, “almost” is a staggering achievement. No one has ever got - this - close.
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 14, 2015
    82
    Close to greatness, needs an end game. Like the original Galactic Council. [June 2015]
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  3. Dealspwn
    Apr 29, 2015
    80
    Though its one-track mind and ruthless AI takes some getting used to, the robust mechanics, great interface and presentation are an incredibly impressive feat from a one-man studio, while sensational shipbuilding and fleet battles prove incredibly satisfying.
  5. GamingTrend
    Apr 11, 2015
    80
    Stardrive 2 is an extremely ambitious title which I’d strongly suggest for fans of compulsively intricate gameplay.
  6. 3DJuegos
    Apr 20, 2015
    75
    StarDrive 2 is a good 4X game with very inspired gameplay moments.
  7. GameWatcher
    Apr 17, 2015
    75
    If you’re looking for a fun, clever little strategy game, you could do a lot worse than pick this up.
  8. Game World Navigator Magazine
    May 14, 2015
    73
    As it was with the first game, the future of StarDrive 2 depends on a single man – its main developer known as Zero. If he’ll give the game enough polish, it may become sparklingly brilliant. But the rough-cut diamond we have today deserves 73, and not a point more. [June 2015, p.74]
  9. GameStar
    Apr 28, 2015
    73
    A better weapon balance, more victory conditions, more diplomacy options and ground assaults that are not at least completely soporific - there is still a lot that could be improved.
  10. Everyeye.it
    May 29, 2015
    70
    If you like 4X strategy, this might be very interesting. It lacks multiplayer, but it makes up for it with many customizing options for single player games. Sometimes it lacks balancing, but the gameplay is still very compelling.
  11. Gamer.nl
    May 17, 2015
    70
    Stardrive 2 is a pretty good turn-based science-fiction RTS. An extensive tutorial takes you away to a fantastic milky way where you are a galactic colonist. At times, this game does not seem to lead anywhere, but with AI that acts up and awesome but difficult battles, Stardrive 2 challenges you and your strategic side to the max.
  12. PC Gamer
    Apr 28, 2015
    70
    Both land and space combat lack punch, but there's a fun if predictable 4X game waiting underneath.
  13. IGN
    Apr 20, 2015
    69
    The focus on extermination saps excitement and possibilities from the strategic level, and the tactical minigames don’t have the AI needed to make the ship-building system’s depth pay off.
  14. GameSpot
    May 13, 2015
    60
    even though these systems achieve competency, they've been done before (and done better) in many other games. So any praise leveled at StarDrive 2 inevitably ends up faint when it's taken alongside other entries in the sci-fi 4X genre.
  15. Games.cz
    May 4, 2015
    60
    StarDrive 2 offers hours of entertainment to the lovers of the 4X space strategies, unfortunately spoiled by the unfinished parts of the game. Despite its healthy core, StarDrive 2 would simply need a few more months of development; cutting off some minigames could help the game as well.
  16. 4P.de
    Apr 24, 2015
    60
    Even though the UI is clumsy the coordination of numerous planets is motivating while seeing your self-designed vessels blowing the enemy to smithereens gives you the extra kick. Too bad that a lot of weaknesses like rudimentary diplomacy options and restricted research makes this a very mediocre 4X experience.
  17. PCGamesN
    Apr 17, 2015
    60
    StarDrive 2 would be an impressive 4X game. But its annoying tone, eccentric AI and the shallowness of the empire management casts a shadow over it. If we weren’t in the middle of an unexpected flood of 4X games, then its take on space conflict alone would make it worth playing, but at the moment there are just too many alternatives.
  18. Game Revolution
    Apr 16, 2015
    60
    Combat is only a small portion of the overall experience, but the other aspects of the game don't particularly shine. It's as if StarDrive 2 is content in its adequacy.

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 105
  3. Negative: 38 out of 105
  1. Vasot
    Apr 9, 2015
    9
    If you like Civilization style TBS games, but always wanted similar style empire building, but in space with amazing ship to ship combat. IIf you like Civilization style TBS games, but always wanted similar style empire building, but in space with amazing ship to ship combat. I highly recommend this game for anyone looking for a galactic empire building game featuring that "just one more turn" itch that some of the great 4x games of the past have offered. This is definitely a game that can keep you up late at night, constantly clicking end turn just to see what lies ahead in the development and struggles of the star nation you've spent hours carefully building.
    Right from the start, you'll be faced with interesting events, encounters, and anomalies that will drive you to spread your chosen species farther out amongst the stars. You'll research interesting technologies, some of them unique to your species and others totally random in nature. You'll find valuable resources to claim through colonization and exploration. You'll design and build your own starships to conquer your enemies and protect all you've gained. You'll engage in diplomacy and espionage with/against a variety of interesting and unique alien species all with their own agendas. You'll meet minor species to either befriend, enslave, or exterminate.
    The combination of turn-based empire management with real-time space combat helps to break up the pace of the game into enjoyable yet distinct pieces. Being able to see a newly researched weapon help your ships blaze a path of destruction across an enemy fleet in real-time combat helps to tie the entire game together and makes it feel like every decision you've made matters. The ship designing and customization are definitely high points of Stardrive 2. The space combat is visually impressive and always fun to play. The ground combat is turn-based, with an X-Com Enemy Unknown feel to it, which I've come to really enjoy as an entirely separate mini-game within Stardrive 2.    … Full Review »
  2. FurballHer0
    Apr 10, 2015
    7
    I've got about 7 hours in so far,

    As a veteran of Imperium galactic series, Galactic Civ, and SD1 as well as a few others I have to say    I've got about 7 hours in so far,

    As a veteran of Imperium galactic series, Galactic Civ, and SD1 as well as a few others I have to say StarDrive 2 holds its head up high among its piers.

    the gameplay is fresh yet familiar. I have to admit I was leery of the new turn based system but in the scheme of things it makes sense and it's a welcomed addition.

    Currently I've restarted the campaign 3 times as I wrap my head around some of the new mechanics and because my poor human civilization was blasted to death by alien scum - which means either I'm terrible at this game or it's hard, which is awesome!.

    The graphics are beautiful, especially the way space combat looks, the planets are all awesome looking as well, the new hex system and fresh.

    The mechanics of researching and building your fleet is pretty much the same as SD1, which is a good thing.

    Space combat is enjoyable and satisfying, nice big explosions and a slow motion mode too! One gripe I have in space combat is that weapons don't lead targets, they aim at where the target was, not at its expected position. Missiles don't turn to intercept targets instead they make weird turns trying to catch up to it... it all feels very unnatural and I hope it's addressed in a patch.

    When it comes to planet colonization, the variety of planets is massive making the whole experience of picking and choosing where you want to focus the new seeds of your civilization as engaging as it is important.

    I like the way they've handled the freighters. Moving food and colonists around really saves us from a lot of the needless planetary micro from SD1. However freighters are not controllable, combine that with the smaller fleet caps and it makes it difficult to protect freighters when your main fleet is off attacking or exploring, they will literally fly directly at an enemy and suicide themselves. We should be able to control freighters, either directly or give us the ability to force them to dock at the nearest planet until the enemy fleet is taken care of.

    Fleet Caps: I really don't see the point of fleet caps. Since each ship has an upkeep cost which in itself is the fleet cap, to compound that with an additional cap to me seems redundant. I like the idea of the fleet cap but instead of having it give you a monetary penalty, it might be more interesting if it gave you a penalty to ships rearm and repair rate, maybe even a damage dealing reduction to ships. Reasoning being they just aren't receiving the maintenance they should.

    Ground combat. The research and upgrades aspect of it is well thought out and implemented however the actual ground combat is meek, it needs a re-tune. If it would have followed in the footsteps of Fallout 2 or X-COM it would have been amazing! But currently, weapons have a hard limit of minimum and maximum ranges,

    Covert Ops: Works similar to the first one, but different enough to be fresh, that being said I think it needs a re-tune. I have 5 spy's doing counter espionage which is the max and I'm still getting tech stolen from me every few turns, which is really quite frustrating. Perhaps remove the spy caps for home defense?

    Spatial anomalies, these are quite fun and new, really enjoying them so far and is a very welcomed addition.

    Interface: interface is well designed, lots of tooltips and the information is easy to understand and readily available in most circumstances. A few gripes I have, on the planetary screen, when cycling from planet to planet via the arrows - every time you click to go to a different planet, the arrows location move to a slightly different spot, making cycling planets in this way annoying, and dizzying. If a fleet is hovering over a planet, the planet under the fleet becomes un clickable, there's also a few other minor annoyances that needs that little bit extra polish.

    Overall, StarDrive2 is an engaging experience and I will surely play many more hours of it as I attempt to conquer the universe however as much as I like it, it's not quite there yet. everything seems 70-80%. It just needs one more good thick coat of polish to make this game really shine.    … Full Review »
  3. gamegremlin
    Apr 12, 2015
    0
    This game is a waste. It crashes, suffers from frame rate issues. There is no way you can play a big galaxy. The AI cheats and is always aThis game is a waste. It crashes, suffers from frame rate issues. There is no way you can play a big galaxy. The AI cheats and is always a war game because the AI will attack you as soon as it can and that is on easy.
    It only allows single player and the diplomacy for that is terrible. I can not believe I wasted my money on this.    … Full Review »
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