Galactic Ruler

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In "Galactic Ruler," players engage in interstellar conquest, managing resources, technology, and diplomacy to expand their empire across the galaxy. Build and customize space stations, research new technologies, and negotiate or wage war with alien races in this challenging turn-based strategy game. With a variety of victory conditions and a procedurally generated galaxy, each playthrough offers a unique experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 158 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics6 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of planetary and space combat, providing a depth not commonly found in other 4X space games.
Gameplay is highly addictive and rewarding, especially for fans of the Supreme Ruler series, with a fun factor rated highly by players.
The developers are committed to ongoing support and updates, showing potential for improvement and expansion of the game.

The user interface is convoluted and unintuitive, making basic tasks frustrating and time-consuming for players.
The game suffers from a steep learning curve, which may deter new players unfamiliar with the Supreme Ruler series.
Many players report bugs and performance issues, leading to a lack of polish and a feeling that the game is unfinished.

gameplay
28 mentions
21 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Gameplay is described as both fantastic and deep, aligning with expectations from the genre, though some players find it initially tedious and lacking in core mechanics. While the planet-side gameplay is richer than in other space 4X games, there are calls for more unique faction mechanics and additional game features. Overall, players recommend familiarizing themselves with gameplay through videos before purchasing, as mastering the mechanics can take time.
- “Gameplay is fantastic and deep - just what you expect from the bg'ers.”
- “The planet-side gameplay is much richer than in other space 4x games.”
- “I still have some way to go to begin to get to grips with the (land) combat mechanics but it's familiar so I do not anticipate any major issues.”
- “The game does feel quite bare bones at times; what is there is really great and a lot of fun, but I would love to see more game mechanics added and more uniqueness in the factions themselves.”
- “Gameplay is tedious, pointless at best.”
- “Right now, it is shallow and lacks core mechanics.”
graphics
18 mentions
11 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have been widely criticized for being outdated and basic, reminiscent of previous titles from Battlegoat Studios. While some players appreciate the detailed setups and the ability to interact with environments, many feel that the overall visual quality is low and lacks vibrancy, with bland planetary designs. Overall, the graphics do not meet modern standards, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “Graphics are Battlegoat Studios - need I say more?”
- “Don't let the retro graphics and non-intuitive GUI steer you away.”
- “The graphics are pretty basic.”
- “The same outdated graphics as previous titles.”
- “Graphics could be better; planets look a bit bland.”
story
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game features a unique and engaging story that is effectively introduced through a concise and enjoyable opening video, which highlights key elements such as the merchant AI and energy dynamics. Reviewers suggest that with further refinement, the narrative could expand into intriguing future possibilities, including themes of alien invasion.
- “In fact, watch the opening video as it tells an important part of the story (namely the merchant AI and energy).”
- “As well, I mentioned the intro above in terms of helping to understand the storyline, but the intro itself is quite enjoyable (not too long either).”
- “If perfected, it will open many possibilities for both future integration and story play, including aspects of a supreme ruler with alien invasion.”
- “If perfected, it will open many possibilities for both the future and even integration of story play from the supreme ruler with alien invasion aspects.”
- “The intro helps to understand the storyline, but it is quite enjoyable on its own and not too long either.”
- “The opening video tells an important part of the story, specifically regarding the merchant AI and energy.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often pointless, with complex micromanagement that can become overwhelming and inconsistent. The intricate nature of tasks, such as land invasions, requires excessive organization and waiting, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “Gameplay is tedious, pointless at best.”
- “A land invasion is a complicated event, but in Galactic Ruler, it's a tedious affair involving more than a dozen hand-organized loadings of transports, micromanaging supplies, and a fair bit of waiting around.”
- “The game is also very complex and lets you do things other games don't, but the micromanagement is inconsistent and gets tedious at times.”
stability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for containing numerous bugs and glitches, leading some users to describe it as "an unplayable buggy mess." However, there is optimism among players as the developers are actively working on updates to address these issues, suggesting that improvements may be forthcoming.
- “I hope the developers leave these games bug-free and support them for as long as possible.”
- “There are a fair number of buggy/glitchy things going on (as of this review in November 2022), but the devs are still working on updates, so I'm confident a lot of those issues will be resolved soon.”
- “"That franchise is an unplayable buggy mess," but Battle Goat Studios makes good games, and I bet they could steal a few ideas and just add on to the great foundation they already have.”
optimization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's user interface is criticized for being poorly optimized, particularly for a 4X title, with calls for improvements in organization and functionality to enhance the overall experience and attract more players.
- “The UI is still very unoptimized for a 4X title.”
- “So, how about you properly address these issues and actually make a legitimate game with properly optimized interfaces, properly sorted features, and maybe - just maybe - you'll actually earn yourself a few more customers.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky character designs, such as creatures with eight eyes and two heads, which elicit laughter through their absurdity. Additionally, the playful idea of establishing a fast food chain on their planet adds a whimsical and lighthearted touch to the overall comedic tone.
- “They look funny with their 8 eyes and two heads.”
- “Plus they smell funny. I also want to build a chain of fast food restaurants on their planet.”
music
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and dynamic nature, adapting to different situations like enemy encounters, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- “One of the standout features of this game is the music; it's excellent and dynamically changes based on the situation, such as when encountering enemy units.”
- “The music in this game is fantastic and adapts to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience during intense moments.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with the developers abandoning the original game to release a DLC as a new title, reflecting a lack of faith in the game's recovery from poor ratings. This approach has left players feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
- “In a desperate attempt to cash grab even more, they have now officially abandoned this version of the game fully, and are releasing the DLC with upgrades and improvements as a new game. There is no way this game can ever recover from 50% Steam ratings to generate any sales; it was dead on arrival, and it's still dead.”