Endless Space 2

About

"ENDLESS™ Space 2 is a strategic space opera where you expand your empire, discover ancient artifacts, and engage in interstellar warfare. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes cosmetic bonuses, soundtrack, and access to the GAMES2GETHER community for contributing ideas and feedback. This game takes place in a galaxy originally colonized by the enrocked beings called the 'ENDLESS™'."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+17

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,872 reviews

gameplay736 positive mentions

stability283 negative mentions

gameplay
2,512 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of *Endless Space 2* is characterized by its deep and intricate mechanics, offering a rich 4X strategy experience with distinct factions that each have unique gameplay styles and mechanics. While the game features a compelling "just one more turn" dynamic, many players find the learning curve steep due to poorly explained mechanics and a complex user interface. Overall, the game is praised for its stunning visuals and immersive lore, but it also faces criticism for repetitive gameplay and some frustrating mechanics, particularly in late-game scenarios.
- “Endless Space 2 is a masterful 4X strategy game that combines deep, rewarding gameplay with stunning visuals and a richly immersive universe.”
- “The engaging mechanics and endless strategic possibilities earn gameplay a strong 9/10.”
- “The gameplay is addictive, with good flow and intelligent design.”
- “The gameplay is the usual high quality, and each faction plays very differently.”
- “The game’s main crime is how fast it gets repetitive: once you learn the mechanics of the game, almost every race feels the same, even when you should be pushed into different playstyles and different game-winning conditions.”
- “The gameplay itself is slow, even for a 4x.”
graphics
1,462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The graphics of *Endless Space 2* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic design, with many reviewers praising the game's elegant, handcrafted aesthetic that immerses players in a believable universe. The ship designs, star systems, and user interface are noted for their beauty and polish, contributing to an overall captivating experience. While some critiques mention that the gameplay may not match the graphical quality, the visuals are consistently highlighted as a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and engaging.
- “Endless Space 2 is a masterful 4X strategy game that combines deep, rewarding gameplay with stunning visuals and a richly immersive universe.”
- “The ship designs, star systems, and user interface are beautifully crafted, with a clean, futuristic aesthetic that immerses players in its universe.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking, with vibrant and detailed star systems, planets, and spaceships.”
- “The game graphically is way better than ES1, and introduces governing in the galaxy that makes it interesting because it no longer is just about assimilating; there is also an element of race and affinities that give it a lot more fun.”
- “The graphics are unappealing, even at max settings on a high-quality 1440p monitor.”
- “The game is beautiful, the music, the colors used, the artwork, all these contribute to a game of great immersiveness.”
story
1,412 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story in "Endless Space 2" is a significant aspect of the game, featuring unique narratives for each faction that enhance the gameplay experience. Players engage with a variety of quests that provide depth and context, although some quests can feel repetitive or poorly balanced, leading to frustration. Overall, the game successfully weaves storytelling into its mechanics, creating a rich and immersive universe, though some players may find the quest system overwhelming or lacking in variety over time.
- “The narrative is a standout feature, woven into the fabric of the game through faction-specific storylines, immersive quests, and dynamic events.”
- “Each faction has a unique backstory and motivations, providing a sense of purpose and personality that sets the game apart.”
- “Immersive storytelling: unlike many other titles in the genre, 'Endless Space 2' weaves compelling narratives for each of its factions.”
- “The storyline is the same for each game.”
- “The quests do not make any sense and are annoying, it crashes all the time.”
- “The quest system is intended to add focus, but the rate at which the game springs these quests on you makes it feel like a mad dash to complete tasks that are, once again, pointless under most circumstances.”
music
1,249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The music in "Endless Space 2" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers praising it as one of the best soundtracks in gaming. Composed by Flybyno, the soundtrack enhances the game's space exploration theme, featuring unique motifs for each faction that contribute to the overall experience. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the majority found it to be a standout element that significantly enriches the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is a banger—epic and sweeping when you’re planning interstellar conquests, chill and hypnotic while exploring uncharted systems.”
- “The music is a perfect fit across the board.”
- “The soundtrack is magnificent, and I highly, highly, highly recommend grabbing the $3 soundtrack DLC.”
- “The music sounds like muzak - not inspiring at all.”
- “The music is cheesy and generic.”
- “The music score is bland and repetitive.”
stability
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
1%
93%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and freezes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over game-breaking issues, particularly during late-game scenarios, and the need for extensive troubleshooting to get the game running. Despite some improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess," making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
- “It's finally almost bug free.”
- “I haven't encountered any defects whatsoever, not a single typo, no glitches, no crashes.”
- “60+ hours in, it still feels really compelling, complete and, for the most part, bug free.”
- “However, this game is extremely buggy—very unstable.”
- “The game is still a bit buggy and laggy.”
- “It's been more than 3 years since this game was released, and after countless patches and quite a few DLCs of dubious quality and content for price - this game is a broken, buggy mess.”
replayability
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
Overall, "Endless Space 2" is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse factions, unique playstyles, and extensive customization options. Many players highlight the game's ability to offer different experiences with each playthrough, thanks to its branching questlines and procedural generation. However, some reviews note that replay value may diminish after exploring the various factions, particularly for those who prefer single-player experiences.
- “Replayability is unmatched, with diverse factions, customizable gameplay settings, and countless ways to approach each game.”
- “The variety ensures no two playthroughs feel the same, earning replayability a perfect 10/10.”
- “With dynamic gameplay, a variety of factions, and procedurally generated galaxies, Endless Space 2 offers nearly infinite replay value.”
- “Still, the replay value is rather low, so don't bother buying it if it's not on sale.”
- “Unfortunately, even with DLCs, the content and replayability is limited.”
- “I really feel like once you've won the game with each race there's not much replay value.”
optimization
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
65%
19%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios where turn times can extend dramatically. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower settings and commend the visuals, others highlight frequent crashes, lag, and the need for extensive adjustments to settings for a playable experience. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further optimization to address its performance shortcomings, especially for larger maps and longer play sessions.
- “The game runs smoothly and stably on an average PC.”
- “Nice visuals, very smooth and easy-to-follow UI (which is a surprise given the genre), awesome music, no performance drops or game-breaking issues so far.”
- “I play with an i5 and GTX 970 and it sticks to 60fps just about all of the time, no issues with performance for me.”
- “I enjoy it a lot, but it is poorly optimized: with large galaxies, with many players and at a high number of turns, it tends to freeze and slow down, even on high-end PCs.”
- “My current biggest complaint is the optimization (the game begins to lag badly at around turn 110 and becomes near unplayable by turn 200+).”
- “The game becomes laggy after turn 100ish, but I'm guessing it will be optimized later on.”
atmosphere
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
27%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, exceptional soundtrack, and immersive world-building, creating a rich and engaging experience for players. Many reviewers highlight the unique faction designs and lore, which contribute to a relaxing and captivating ambiance that enhances gameplay. Overall, the combination of art, music, and storytelling results in an atmospheric experience that stands out in the 4X genre.
- “The sound and music are exceptional, with an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly captures the grandeur of space exploration.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, with each faction's musical score being brilliantly composed.”
- “The atmosphere, stunning score by Flybyno, and absolutely gorgeous visuals have made the Endless Space universe a vibrant, gorgeous, and immersive place to be.”
- “However, actual gameplay feels dull, generic and extremely repetitive with none of the character or atmosphere from the race videos.”
- “The sound design of the game is straight up damaging to my ears, with what sounds the menu and system hovers make, and the music somehow manages to miss the exact and only spot it should have been aiming for, which is to create an atmosphere for the game.”
- “Compared to Stellaris, Endless Space 2 is dead boring and has not half the atmosphere.”
grinding
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
93%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game becomes increasingly tedious, particularly in the late game, where players often feel overwhelmed by micromanagement and repetitive tasks. Many users express frustration with the slow pacing and lack of meaningful decisions, leading to a sense of boredom and a desire for shorter, more engaging gameplay sessions. While some appreciate the depth and complexity, the consensus is that the game can feel like a chore, especially as it progresses beyond the mid-game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It is not tedious and difficult, except if you want to expert on some of the factions, which hold unusual traits.”
- “Amazing 4X game, the gameplay is involving, the empire management is enjoyable and not tedious in any way, and it very much is a game where you can find yourself going 'just one more turn.'”
- “I only wish that each run was shorter; I found that as the game progresses - usually after the 100 turn mark - it starts to drag on and become tedious.”
- “It just gets tedious and feels like a waste of time towards the end game, with so many small decisions to be made that have no overall impact on your gameplay, making it take hours to get through 20 turns late game.”
- “The gameplay focus broadly on the matter of things without having you do manual stuff like controlling fleets or assigning build orders (which can become tedious as you have more to manage the longer you play) is a good example other games can learn from.”
humor
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in "Endless Space 2" is widely praised for its quirky characters, witty dialogue, and entertaining events that add a lighthearted touch to the game's complex mechanics. Players enjoy the satirical elements, particularly the humorous factions like the Horatio, whose over-the-top personalities and absurd scenarios provide consistent laughs throughout gameplay. While some critiques mention that certain aspects of humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances serious themes with a playful tone, making it an enjoyable experience.
- “Endless Space 2 is here to whisk you away on an interstellar joyride packed with quirky characters, mind-bending science fiction, and enough galactic politics to make even the most stoic space emperor burst out laughing.”
- “The game has a great sense of humor, with silly and entertaining events that can happen during gameplay.”
- “The humor is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of theoretical physics, most of the jokes will go over a typical viewer's head.”
- “This game is just not funny at all.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but it was a total miss.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
11%
72%
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of overpriced DLCs and in-game advertisements. Critics argue that the monetization practices resemble those of other companies known for exploiting players, while some users appreciate the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the game's monetization strategy detracts from the overall experience, with calls for it to be flagged as incomplete.
- “They are not greedy; there's no BS loot crates, microtransactions, or problematic DLC policy.”
- “No loot boxes or microtransactions in this game.”
- “But gameplay is not good enough; those interesting mechanics are not realized to the point where they become enjoyable, and the monetization model is not a good one.”
- “Just a cash grab.”
- “Tells you everything you need to know about this shameless cash grab.”
- “This has resulted in Sony-style DLC practices and monetization - tons of minuscule, very overpriced DLCs and a handful of even more overpriced regular DLCs, all of which look like content that was cut from the base game in order to sell as DLC.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from excitement and glee to frustration and boredom. While some appreciate the emotional depth and immersive universe, others find the gameplay emotionally draining and lacking in meaningful engagement, leading to mixed feelings about their overall experience. The game's ability to evoke both positive and negative emotions keeps players returning, despite criticisms of its mechanics and storyline.
- “This game has made me feel the full range of emotions: excited, smug, angry, bored, frustrated, gleeful... and although it sounds like there are more negative emotions in there than positive ones, I keep coming back to it.”
- “The music made me feel relaxed.”
- “I really want to like it, but it is emotionally draining to play.”
- “Nice at first glance, however, it turns out to be a waste of 25 hours: boring storyline, pointless quests and decisions, passive AI, empire-building and planet management do not deliver a feeling of creation, and there is no sense of a real economy and society.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional art style and unique designs that reflect the distinct traits of each faction. Reviewers highlight the depth of character development and lore, showcasing Amplitude Studio's strength in creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “It's a beautifully designed game with character development and depth.”
- “Amplitude Studio's strengths lie in their character design, their lore and world building, and by tuning the traditional 4X formula to add more depth of play style.”
- “Amplitude is well known for their aesthetically pleasing games, and ES2 is no exception, with gorgeous art, sound, and character design.”