Stellaris

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 984 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 742 out of 984
  2. Mixed: 133 out of 984
  3. Negative: 109 out of 984

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  1. Fahrenheit88
    May 9, 2016
    10
    Stellaris has everything that a space-games enthusiast seeks: kickass graphics, constantly changing stories and adventures full of pop-culture references, and a well-structured balance between exploration and expansion. From the first minute, this game will leave an ever lasting impression on you, and you will know that whenever you play any future space strategy games in the future, youStellaris has everything that a space-games enthusiast seeks: kickass graphics, constantly changing stories and adventures full of pop-culture references, and a well-structured balance between exploration and expansion. From the first minute, this game will leave an ever lasting impression on you, and you will know that whenever you play any future space strategy games in the future, you will ALWAYS compare them to Stellaris. That is how perfect this game is. It is a must buy for any space strategy fan and should not under any circumstances be missed. Buy it and support Paradox, the new God of Mass Strategy Games!… Expand
  2. JaPeLi
    Oct 10, 2018
    8
    Stellaris is a lot of fun for a lot of reasons. It also has a great deal of flaws. The game itself is vast, and in typical Paradox style, it has several expansions which add more content to the game. However, even without all the DLC’s, the game is expansive.
    Stellaris focuses heavily on strategy and exploration, and it does these things very well. You start off the game as a space-faring    Stellaris is a lot of fun for a lot of reasons. It also has a great deal of flaws. The game itself is vast, and in typical Paradox style, it has several expansions which add more content to the game. However, even without all the DLC’s, the game is expansive.
    Stellaris focuses heavily on strategy and exploration, and it does these things very well. You start off the game as a space-faring empire, which has just discovered interstellar travel. Your empire is heavily customizable – for example, I started off on a frozen planet run by a deeply religious xenophilic race of blue humanoids, led by an elite group of priests, which co-evolved with a species of servile tortoises. The game does customization very well, and this offers a great deal of replayability to the game.
    The game can be loosely divided into 3 sections – the early, mid, and late game. These correspond to – in a default game – 100 and 300 years after you begin. Each section from the mid-game on, has its own special events, which can occur depending on several factors. I won’t spoil any of them, but they are generally a lot of fun and provide a brief respite from the otherwise bland portions of the game.

    And that is one of my main issues with Stellaris – the “bland” portions of the game. Once your empires borders and opinions of other empires have already been established, they do not change much. What remains is “bland.” Whilst the early game focuses on exploration and colonisation, and establishing borders and strategic points, which is enjoyable; the mid game offers very little in comparison.
    The problem is that the mid-game does away with what Stellaris does very well – exploration. During the mid-game, you generally have explored every system in the galaxy, and encountered every other empire. There is no more exploring to do, and thus no anomalies to find. Thus, you focus on things like research, or (the very limited) diplomacy. Perhaps you become more powerful, your numbers get bigger, but what of it? Until the late game, there is nothing to do, no events to occur, and I have sat through decades (in-game) waiting for something to happen. I generally just left it on in the background whilst I did other things.
    Whilst it does many things well, the game lacks in several important areas, such as the depth (or lack thereof) of diplomacy, the economy, warfare, and of course, the mid-game. Regardless, I still enjoy playing Stellaris, and would recommend it in the hope that these issues are fixed.    … Expand
  3. mackoff
    Nov 2, 2016
    10
    Absolutely awesome game for a real fans of deep and rich strategy. This game will rock your socks off!

    Great system of management and tons of possibilities. Everything packed in very user friendly UI. Best played in a bunch of colleagues when you cooperate, trade, plan and compete for your final glory. This game is complete even now but Paradox will develop it for years bringing    Absolutely awesome game for a real fans of deep and rich strategy. This game will rock your socks off!

    Great system of management and tons of possibilities. Everything packed in very user friendly UI.

    Best played in a bunch of colleagues when you cooperate, trade, plan and compete for your final glory.

    This game is complete even now but Paradox will develop it for years bringing us a lot of fun and discover.

    Best strategy game i played so far in 2016, strongly recomended!    … Expand
  4. ayls01
    Dec 19, 2016
    10
    This game is one of the best 4x experiences I tried, this after the patches have greatly improved and expanded content over and over again .
    In clonclusion is a very good buy, and I do not regret anything.
    Cons: a hard learning curve
  5. Juggulator
    May 19, 2016
    8
    Really good game a bit of a learning curve but i love the setting as well as being able to create your own faction. One thing i don't really like is your policies being limited by your starting species traits as i find it rather annoying that you cannot change your play style as dynamically however still one of the best Grand strategies i have played in a long time.
  6. haiontop
    May 15, 2016
    8
    This is 4x, explore, expand, exploit, exterminate. Why would anyone disagree on that just because there are also events? You can turned off event popup if you feel there is no real impact, like I do.
    Innovative features are:
    1. Sector management: so you don't need to micro every planet at the cost of at least 25% energy&mineral surplus in that sector. You get all the research generated.    This is 4x, explore, expand, exploit, exterminate. Why would anyone disagree on that just because there are also events? You can turned off event popup if you feel there is no real impact, like I do.
    Innovative features are:
    1. Sector management: so you don't need to micro every planet at the cost of at least 25% energy&mineral surplus in that sector. You get all the research generated. Sector don't build/manage ship (constructor), so you need to order construction of stations yourself.
    2. Card based research: You have min 3 choices in 3 area of research.

    Can be improved by implementing:
    1. Auto explore like other space games.
    2. Disable popup of contact event (as there is no choice to be made).
    3. Add major event that cripple whole empire/area.

    Overall good initial release, hopefully dlc will make thing more interesting. Distant Worlds Universe is still the best ...    … Expand
  7. Chrischrill
    May 11, 2016
    8
    Stellaris is your typical grand strategy game from Paradox, except for the setting. With space, Paradox conquers the final frontier? Or do they?

    The game is off to a great start, the early-game is fantastic and it gives me great pleasure to explore the universe and its anomalies. Once I reach mid-game, the game grinds to a painful halt. Many of the features and functions of this game    Stellaris is your typical grand strategy game from Paradox, except for the setting. With space, Paradox conquers the final frontier? Or do they?

    The game is off to a great start, the early-game is fantastic and it gives me great pleasure to explore the universe and its anomalies. Once I reach mid-game, the game grinds to a painful halt. Many of the features and functions of this game are undeveloped and sometimes not very well thought through. Depending on your mode of FTL transport, you may be fighting an enemy you cannot reach even though they can reach you. It's hard to win such a war, isn't it?

    Stellaris is lacking in areas such as trade and economy. Knowing Paradox, this is something they will work with in a future DLC. All in all, this is a good game with greater potential waiting to be unlocked.    … Expand
  8. Leuko
    May 15, 2016
    8
    I like this game so far. It is well delivered 4X strategy without messy micro management. Unfortunately warfare in Stellaris is really boring what I fear will impact this game's replayability.

    Logistics is appalling. Ships do not need supply, so war can be waged in any part of map with same efficiency. Additionally there is no combat penalty for huge fleets so final effect is creation    I like this game so far. It is well delivered 4X strategy without messy micro management. Unfortunately warfare in Stellaris is really boring what I fear will impact this game's replayability.

    Logistics is appalling. Ships do not need supply, so war can be waged in any part of map with same efficiency. Additionally there is no combat penalty for huge fleets so final effect is creation doom stacks that can strike anywhere without restriction.

    Only limiting factor is Naval Capacity and it does not affect the way wars are conducted.

    In its current state combat is worse than in Civ4. I guess i will revert to EU4 once novelty wears off.    … Expand
  9. DemKin
    May 17, 2016
    9
    This game seems to have woken up some kind of urge for 4x games for me...
    Not gonna get into details as I don't know enough about this kind of games, I'll just say that, being a generally space-enthusiastic guy and a liker of games, I'm thoroughly enjoying this game so far ( ~25hrs in as I write this ) and excited to see what they come up with in the future expansions.
    Stellaris is fun,    This game seems to have woken up some kind of urge for 4x games for me...
    Not gonna get into details as I don't know enough about this kind of games, I'll just say that, being a generally space-enthusiastic guy and a liker of games, I'm thoroughly enjoying this game so far ( ~25hrs in as I write this ) and excited to see what they come up with in the future expansions.
    Stellaris is fun, well-thought out, and I can recommend it.    … Expand
  10. J4MESOX4D
    May 11, 2016
    9
    Stellaris is another magnificient grand strategy title from Paradox Development Studio that is incredibly deep, immensely detailed and highly ambitious. The game is also championed by a vastly improved user interface when compared with other Paradox games and has a far more inviting learning curve without losing the challenge or depth that the other games by this highly regarded developerStellaris is another magnificient grand strategy title from Paradox Development Studio that is incredibly deep, immensely detailed and highly ambitious. The game is also championed by a vastly improved user interface when compared with other Paradox games and has a far more inviting learning curve without losing the challenge or depth that the other games by this highly regarded developer offer.

    Paradox are widely known for their catalogue of strategy games over the years which are of a very high quality but are also remarkably complex to an extent; some newcomers and even veterans of the genre felt alienated, confused and simply overwhelmed. Stellaris however, has a fully fledged tutorial integrated into the main campaign which not only guides you through the general mechanics along with each feature in a constructive manner; it explains aspects clearly and this is further supported by a far more user friendly interface. The screen is less cluttered when compared with the likes of Europa Universalis IV and all the information is clear, condensed and well presented.

    The game takes place in space which is an almost Call of Duty style departure from the typical Paradox titles of classic eras and a real world setting. The premise is also slightly different as you create your colony from scratch or by selecting some preset examples instead of guiding an already established country. Your goal in the galaxy is to explore, build, research, expand, conquer and even exterminate all other races you come across - basically exactly what you'd expect from a 4X title. You can play this game however you wish and at your own pace - you may opt to be a fanatic militarist or simply want to discover as much of the universe as possible whilst befriending and benefitting from other races you meet along the way. It is a massively detailed and highly engrossing experience in which the developers have made the transition from reality to sci-fi in a very credible fashion.

    Stellaris runs superbly too and is bolstered by truly fantastic atmosphere enhancing audio that complements your game throughout. The visuals are very good too and the galaxy map whilst despite looking rather basic, is easy to grasp and understand which is another massive plus. Overall; Stellaris is another superb Paradox title that is riddled with depth and a long term challenge but is also presented and executed in a far more appealling and enjoyable way than some previous titles by the studio. This game will have a bright future and is sure to provide many hours of entertainment.    … Expand
  11. Skulb
    May 15, 2016
    9
    Although it isn't perfect, Stellaris is very impressive. It looks amazing and takes some novel twists on the 4X genre. When compared to Galactic Civilization and Masters of Orion it certainly measures up. In some ways I prefer it, although that might be because it feels more fresh.

    Pros: -Good micro management and delegation system. Clusters of systems can be turned into sectors and    Although it isn't perfect, Stellaris is very impressive. It looks amazing and takes some novel twists on the 4X genre. When compared to Galactic Civilization and Masters of Orion it certainly measures up. In some ways I prefer it, although that might be because it feels more fresh.

    Pros:

    -Good micro management and delegation system. Clusters of systems can be turned into sectors and handed over to governors, letting you stay in direct control of a small core the entire game. Balancing many sectors isn't always easy though, but it's a nice way to get around the specter of too much micro management.

    - Great research system and special events. Leaders (Governors, scientists, admirals and generals) have lifespans, which makes things interesting and keeps them that way. A leader can get both positive and negative traits, so once in a while someone will die and it'll almost be a relief.

    - Very good colonization system. You can either tech up so you can colonize worlds your species isn't comfortable with. or you can simply conquer a world with a species living on it, integrate it into your empire and then use that species to colonize worlds you can't use, but which they can.

    - Detailed government, social and spiritual simulator. Planets can riot, go on strike or even revolt; populations can migrate, usually between your planets. Building a happiness generating building on one planet makes the people there happy, obviously, but also tends to entice people on other planets without this building to migrate there. It's all deliciously complicated, but since nothing too catastrophic usually happens you can take most of this in your stride.

    Excellent economic sim. There is pressure from the start between getting enough minerals for building mining bases and stuff on your planets, and the energy you need to run all of it. There is also influence, which is a tricky resource with few sources. But you need it for all sorts of things, like hiring leaders, building certain buildings and suppressing revolts, so running out of it can be almost as crippling as running out of energy.

    - Good visuals and sound.

    - Scientifically speaking an awesome take on space travel. Each species has one of three modes of transport: warp jumps, hyperspace and worm holes. Warp space is slow but you're free to go in any direction within the jump radius; hyperspace is faster but restricts you to following the rigid network of hyperspace lanes while worm holes are instant once the portal has been made and have the best range. But once you get to your destination you can only jump back to where you came from.. This makes for interesting sci-fi fodder as warp drive dependent fleets try to follow worm hole users. Free tip: don't do what I just said. It doesn't work.

    - Good species and traits variations.

    Cons:

    Although the species are nice and varied they do tend to look a bit samey, and most of the buildings are identical. This is one area where GalCiv definitely has an edge I think. The races there feel a lot more different than they do in Stellaris.

    - The governor AI is very passive (Or quite possibly useless.). It takes them forever to upgrade planet capitals, if they do at all. I'm still not sure. But this needs to be done ASAP, so why there's even a delay is anyone's guess. This could have done with a bit more programming and a few more parameters to guide AI behavior. If there was a box saying "upgrade planet capitals as soon as possible" I would definitely have checked it.
    In fact, AI in general is questionable. For example, when you bombard a planet and the enemy empire has existing orbital bases around other planets after you have beaten their fleet, they will trickle in one ship at a time from all of them. This is obviously useless but it also very annoying. Every time a single defenseless ship arrives to the siege you have to lift the siege, fire a volley and then click the planet again to resume bombardment. I hate it when AIs are this dumb.

    - Small one, but although the music is very good it does tend to wear a bit thin after a few hundred loops. The game could do with one more musical theme as developed as the one it has right now. About twice as much music as it currently has seems about right.

    - Wrong kind of tutorial for my taste. It uses the pop-up approach, which I always turn off to avoid annoyance. I much prefer optional information I can look up when I need it. Also, the existing and very irritating tutorial manages to drop the ball something terrible when it comes to setting up and managing sectors. This you'll basically have to do by the seat of your pants, and it will fail many times before you figure things out. The game is not going to help you.

    - Simplistic space battles.

    Wonderful game altogether though. The only significant weakness is the AI, which is possibly the least impressive AI I have seen in a Paradox game since EU Rome. It's not so bad that it ruins one's enjoyment of the game though.    … Expand
  12. Darizuka
    May 13, 2016
    10
    In the face of a Robotic Incursion, hellbent on conquering, pacifying and enslaving sentient mortal organic beings.. Several civilizations cast away their differences to fight in Union to put an end to the Robotic Uprising...
    And not long after, would blow eachother to kingdom come.

    10/10 for Realistic accuracy.
  13. thoord
    May 11, 2016
    10
    This game is beyond amazing, the best strategy I've ever played and with enormous amount of potential to grow. I am a huge fan of Paradox and this is by far the best game they've ever released.
  14. Rumpeltroll
    May 12, 2016
    10
    The game is awesome. It's smooth, elegant, sounds great, looks great, and is stable.
    This is no trivial game that you can master, finish and discard in a couple dozen hours.
    I imagine this is a game I will continue playing for months, if not years, especially as new content is released. Stellaris is a STRATEGY game, and makes no bones about it, as there is barely even a nod towards    The game is awesome. It's smooth, elegant, sounds great, looks great, and is stable.
    This is no trivial game that you can master, finish and discard in a couple dozen hours.
    I imagine this is a game I will continue playing for months, if not years, especially as new content is released. Stellaris is a STRATEGY game, and makes no bones about it, as there is barely even a nod towards tactical elements.

    The one thing I love about Stellaris above most other games in this genre .... there are actual STAR SYSTEMS, not just planets floating in space or arbitrary placeholders. Ships which warp or jump into a system have to traverse the system or wait for their jump drives to cool down before they can jump again. As an immersive factor, this WORKS for me.

    The nature of the game is TOTALLY suited to modding and customisation. I can imagine people designing the entire star wars galaxy or star trek galaxy or empire of man or warhammer 40k universe or starcraft universe in this. I literally cannot wait to see what modders will do in terms of race design, 3d models, static galaxy designs, story driven gameplay, event chains, etc.

    Stellaris has given a massive POKE IN THE EYE to those who think 4x games cannot encompass multiple stardrive types and should be simplified to managing hyperlane bottlenecks.

    You will love it if
    - you like sandbox games
    - you want control of customisation
    - you want to set your own goals, and drive your own agenda
    - you love science fiction stories, as the anomalies and events in the game are like a story unfolding, absolutely amazing.

    You will hate it if
    - you are a twitch gamer wanting a rail-shooter in space
    - you want the game to drive the agenda for you
    - you just wanna kill things and couldn't be bothered to read.

    Being a sandbox, i imagine it will suit the multiplayer environment much better than the single player environment, but it is still an awesome single player experience.

    There are a few things missing, but they detract very little from the game experience.
    - there are only randomly generated games, no campaign modes
    - there are no freighters, passenger ships, trade routes, etc.
    - the game is pseudo 3d, and effectively plays out on a flat galaxy map
    - no tactical combat mode, but its well done, with combat seamlessly playing outin real time on the strategic map.
    - current diplomacy is not that complex, no espionage, sabotage, etc. But the sheer number of species and diversity adds its own complexity.
    - being a sandbox, there is currently no campaign, but I am sure the modding community will solve this.
    - while there are leaders (governals, admirals, scientists, etc) with traits, experience and skills, they are randomly generated, not a result of a complex relationship engine as in CK2. Not a big deal to me, but I imagine some would have hoped for this. I can imagne a system like rome total war with governing families leading factions might have worked.

    Many of the tricks the designers missed in the realease version, I imagine can be added in future content, or through modding.    … Expand
  15. socokid
    Aug 11, 2016
    10
    I've only started playing it a few days ago, after the latest large patch. If there were bugs, etc... on first release, they definitely do not seem to be there now. I've played 62 hours, no crashes, lags, etc... Runs great. *shrugs*

    It's an immense, extremely fun, complex but playable classic space RTS. Gaining resources, researching tech, building/designing ships and destroying others.    I've only started playing it a few days ago, after the latest large patch. If there were bugs, etc... on first release, they definitely do not seem to be there now. I've played 62 hours, no crashes, lags, etc... Runs great. *shrugs*

    It's an immense, extremely fun, complex but playable classic space RTS. Gaining resources, researching tech, building/designing ships and destroying others. Throw in exploration, surveying planets, etc...

    It is amazing this game isn't more popular than it is... And some of these bad reviews are so wrong, and I mean flat out untrue, that I either question whether they have actually played the game, or if the first two large updates were just that drastic (never played it when it came out a few months ago).

    On my second play-through, still having a blast, worth every penny IMO.    … Expand
  16. sovereign007
    Jun 17, 2016
    9
    While it isn't perfect, Stellaris has taken over my gaming life. It is gripping and addicting, and even AI shortfalls and some bugs do not detract from the overall experience sufficiently to dock more than 1 point from my review. It is also incredibly easy to mod yourself if you wish to get a slightly different gameplay experience out of it: For example, I wanted a longer eXplore phaseWhile it isn't perfect, Stellaris has taken over my gaming life. It is gripping and addicting, and even AI shortfalls and some bugs do not detract from the overall experience sufficiently to dock more than 1 point from my review. It is also incredibly easy to mod yourself if you wish to get a slightly different gameplay experience out of it: For example, I wanted a longer eXplore phase before the borders were set and we became medieval Europe in space. Well, easy enough, make galaxy larger than the max 1,000 stars the game comes with and don't use too many alien races. Suddenly space is big and wondrous. Want the opposite? Increase the max number of empires on a mid-sized map and everyone suddenly needs to rush to grab the little precious land that exists.

    And as a bonus, it looks beautiful without being hard on your video card. A 750Ti runs it more than fine.    … Expand
  17. obnose
    May 29, 2016
    9
    Wonderful 4X space game, with some traces of the very special Paradox's grand strategy.

    Easier to get into than other Paradox games like Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings, one of its better features is an awesome eXploration phase, neglicted ofently in 4X games. You'll find lot of events, stories, surprises... which will make really enjoyable the first steps of your empire-building.    Wonderful 4X space game, with some traces of the very special Paradox's grand strategy.

    Easier to get into than other Paradox games like Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings, one of its better features is an awesome eXploration phase, neglicted ofently in 4X games. You'll find lot of events, stories, surprises... which will make really enjoyable the first steps of your empire-building. Technology and research (the genetics developments are very welcome), politics (not just elections but managing a diverse and potencially conflicted empire because of divisive issues according to the different ethics of your population), diplomacy (including federations à la Star Trek)... and war, with several options for both your fleet and land forces.

    Best thing in Stellaris is that is a very powerful frame to keep building the game the way their developers have done (and are doing several years after their release) with Europa Universalis 4 or Crusader Kings 2. Stellaris is a must for all space games lovers.    … Expand
  18. pguyton
    May 10, 2016
    9
    I love this game alot, it feels deeper and better developed than any other 4x title out there, paradox will also do a great job supporting it - it's already VERY modable and I'm enjoying it alot

    it will take you a VERY long time to play all the way through as all their games do. if you know their other games you should be aware that it isn't about combat it's about exploring    I love this game alot, it feels deeper and better developed than any other 4x title out there, paradox will also do a great job supporting it - it's already VERY modable and I'm enjoying it alot

    it will take you a VERY long time to play all the way through as all their games do. if you know their other games you should be aware that it isn't about combat it's about exploring development and diplomacy - it's very pretty but combat is a a game/dice rolling in the background not total war type micro .

    it's like a wonderful giant boardgame with a very epic feel

    I for one love it and strongly recommend it .    … Expand
  19. djnicey
    May 9, 2016
    10
    I've only played 7 hours so far but this game is better than I expected from watching the pre-release streams. Its a GOTY contender for sure so far. The game is easy to learn and gives you plenty of choices right from the start of the game, so will have lots of re-playability. The graphics are really well done and the orchestral music is superb and really relaxing.

    Its the kind of game    I've only played 7 hours so far but this game is better than I expected from watching the pre-release streams. Its a GOTY contender for sure so far. The game is easy to learn and gives you plenty of choices right from the start of the game, so will have lots of re-playability. The graphics are really well done and the orchestral music is superb and really relaxing.

    Its the kind of game where you say "just 5 more minutes" then look at the clock and see that an hour has gone by and you want just another 5 minutes before you quit and that turns into an hour too.    … Expand
  20. wushu
    May 11, 2016
    10
    A fantastic space strategy game, one of the best. True it may have streamlined much mechanics and receives criticism for that but that's what mods are for - which are embraced by the devs, Paradox who have a long standing tradition of post release support and community but I think have taken it to another level on this one. One negative is the lack of options as far as system and guiA fantastic space strategy game, one of the best. True it may have streamlined much mechanics and receives criticism for that but that's what mods are for - which are embraced by the devs, Paradox who have a long standing tradition of post release support and community but I think have taken it to another level on this one. One negative is the lack of options as far as system and gui settings, which hopefully and assuredly will be addressed in a patch by the company which is not an EA or Actiblizzard and actually care about the customers. So in that regard and also in terms of gameplay and a surprisingly bugfree release (how often do we get to say that with AAA releases these days?) I give the game a perfect score.

    10/10, would be enslaved to the master race that is Stellaris again and again.    … Expand
  21. wujekblazej
    May 10, 2016
    9
    My girlfriend doesn't speak to me, my friends think I'm weird, my parents came by to give me food and check if I am alive: this is the type of game that destroys lives.
    On the other hand, AI really needs to be improved, also diplomatic depth is not as deep as I hoped. In few months it will be one of the best games Paradox has ever produced, just give them time to polish it.
  22. nabla
    May 13, 2016
    9
    This is one of the best space strategy games ever made. It's full of content, exploration is fun, graphics look astonishingly good for a Paradox game. I really love playing it and I think Paradox is on the right track making their recent games easier to get into (compared to a Hearts of Iron III). For someone like me who digs really complex games it's maybe a bit too simple regardingThis is one of the best space strategy games ever made. It's full of content, exploration is fun, graphics look astonishingly good for a Paradox game. I really love playing it and I think Paradox is on the right track making their recent games easier to get into (compared to a Hearts of Iron III). For someone like me who digs really complex games it's maybe a bit too simple regarding strategy and gameplay mechanics, but I think it perfectly fits the scenario. Good work Paradox! You already sold me a copy of the forthcoming Hearts of Iron IV.… Expand
  23. Nanostar
    May 17, 2016
    9
    OK I rated this a9.. perfection doesn't exist for me but this comes close. It is a game changer of a 4X games.. Gives me the same buzz as the first Civilization or Stellar Crusade.
    4X games have been following Stellar Crusade and MoO's pattern for years... a few showed game changing advances.. GC2.. SE3.. but then these were followed by prettier versions of the same game. Stellaris    OK I rated this a9.. perfection doesn't exist for me but this comes close. It is a game changer of a 4X games.. Gives me the same buzz as the first Civilization or Stellar Crusade.
    4X games have been following Stellar Crusade and MoO's pattern for years... a few showed game changing advances.. GC2.. SE3.. but then these were followed by prettier versions of the same game. Stellaris brings major changes.. Spending the time researching each world and star near home while you develop a colony ship is really interesting. Then there is the first time you Gene Mod your race to better fit the planet you have dumped them on.. its just astonishing when you realize what you can do. The funny stories research generates.. the decision to change your laws to allow robot (slaves).
    But still not perfect. I expect 2 or 3 major dlc releases this year and a better game after each one.
    My only problem is i am not now inclined to play MoO4 which i have on steam.. and which deserves playing in itself.    … Expand
  24. RomanWolf
    May 15, 2016
    9
    Better than Civ5, simpler than EuropaUniversalis games, deeper than EndlessSpace, more engaging than many other 4x games, and what is most amazing.... the Multiplayer in real time (it does not uses turns !) + the Steam Workshop work flawlessly. If this is only the beginning of journey + with DLC for good price this could be the game of the year and i am not joking.
  25. SoreelTheShort
    May 17, 2016
    9
    I created an account specifically to write a review for this game. I am a fan of the Europa Universalis and Crusader Kings and have been playing Stellaris now for about 40 hours. I find it an amazing game. It has a lot of the core mechanics I love from EU4, leaders gaining experience, a rich multi-currency system for advancing, and good diplomatic options but in a setting that isnt anI created an account specifically to write a review for this game. I am a fan of the Europa Universalis and Crusader Kings and have been playing Stellaris now for about 40 hours. I find it an amazing game. It has a lot of the core mechanics I love from EU4, leaders gaining experience, a rich multi-currency system for advancing, and good diplomatic options but in a setting that isnt an already-colonized Europe -- 1000 planets and the chance to expand.

    Starship Design isn't the most intricate but I believe that the decisions I am given truly matter in Combat. I prefer that over customization that doesn't make a difference. I also very much appreciate the established ancient civilizations that start out overwhelmingly more powerful than my fledgling Interstellar Republic. I dont remember a game that has done as well as Stellaris in introducing multiple movement techniques (warp versus wormholes) and making them all work together.

    The tutorial and tools tips ran well and I can count on only one hand the major rules that werent clear from the beginning to an experienced strategy gamer. You need to understand some of the nuances of generating sectors and the importance of Influence Currency but once you get that the rest is pretty straightforward.

    In short, a pretty amazing game so far and I know the Paradox user and developer community will nurture the game and help it to continue to flourish.    … Expand
  26. cast87
    May 24, 2016
    8
    Good game to my preference. And it have easy interface compared with other paradox games, So i don't have barrier of entry. Likewise, there's no need to long tutorials. But I need DLC !!!
  27. mindw0rk
    May 9, 2016
    10
    I didnt play other Paradox games, but I did play plenty of 4x space games. And since Galactic Civ 2 I couldnt find the one I would enjoy. CG3 was just boring copypaste of previous, other 4x space games were either too primited and copypaste or overcomplicated like Distant Worlds. This is the first game in a loong time that feels fresh, intuitive and very indepth at the same time. I likeI didnt play other Paradox games, but I did play plenty of 4x space games. And since Galactic Civ 2 I couldnt find the one I would enjoy. CG3 was just boring copypaste of previous, other 4x space games were either too primited and copypaste or overcomplicated like Distant Worlds. This is the first game in a loong time that feels fresh, intuitive and very indepth at the same time. I like almost everything in it except maybe font which is too small for me. But thats minor complain. Hats off to Paradox and I hope to see many DLC's for this fantastic franchise.… Expand
  28. ariefbud
    May 9, 2016
    10
    This game is great and has good potential. I am sure paradox will support this game for years to come. Just like Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4.
    And just ignore IGN they suck.
  29. Remrrg
    May 9, 2016
    9
    I played a lot of 4x space games and this game sticks out the most! And since Galactic Civ 2 I couldn't find the one I would enjoy. A lot of 4x games I played feels recycled but Stellaris is the first game that feels really fresh from other 4x games.
  30. shaund91
    May 9, 2016
    10
    just what you would imagine from a Paradox game, great 4x in a space setting this time which is a good departure from their typical historical settings. They know 4x in and out
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Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best PC Game of 2016
23
#23 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
31
#31 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 57
  3. Negative: 1 out of 57
  1. Games Master UK
    Jul 25, 2016
    90
    A stunning first step into space for strategy's superstars - and a great gateway to their other games. [July 2016, p.76]
  2. CD-Action
    Jul 21, 2016
    85
    It was really hard for me to break away from Stellaris’ grip to write this review. It’s one of those gems you launch in the evening for a moment but quit at dawn. [07/2016, p.50]
  3. Riot Pixels
    Jul 11, 2016
    65
    Stellaris feels like two games of completely different quality. One game offers boring linear stand-offs against a tame AI, the other is an excellent multiplayer platform.
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