Nexus 5X

About

Nexus 5X is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Whatboy Games and was released on April 18, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Nexus 5X is a competitive 4X strategy game where 2-8 players can battle for galactic dominance in about an hour. Select unique factions, form alliances, and execute strategic moves in turn-based multiplayer, either with friends or in online skill-based matchmaking. Build your empire, control Nexus, and climb to the Galactic Throne by expanding, exploring, exploiting, and exterminating.

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,270 reviews

gameplay64 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Stellaris Nexus condenses the 4X experience into quick 1-2 hour sessions, making it perfect for players with limited time.
The game features a variety of factions and leaders, each with unique abilities, providing depth and replayability.
The simultaneous turn system keeps gameplay fast-paced and engaging, allowing for strategic interactions and diplomacy.

The game suffers from balancing issues, particularly with certain factions being overpowered, which can lead to frustrating gameplay.
There is a lack of players in the multiplayer mode, making it difficult to find matches without friends.
Some players have reported bugs and crashes, particularly in the single-player story mode, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of Stellaris Nexus is praised for its fast-paced, streamlined 4X mechanics that blend elements from traditional board games like Twilight Imperium and Eclipse, allowing for engaging multiplayer experiences in about an hour. While the game features a variety of factions with unique mechanics and offers deep strategic options, some players find the introduction of certain mechanics, such as espionage, to be overly complex or frustrating. Overall, the game is seen as a solid adaptation of the Stellaris universe, providing a rich and replayable experience, though it may require some patience to fully grasp its intricacies.
- “Stellaris Nexus brilliantly adapts and even surpasses the best mechanics of traditional board games for the digital arena.”
- “The gameplay is really deep and there's a ton of optimizing, strategy, and diplomacy.”
- “Perfect mix of board game-like gameplay with video game accessibility.”
- “It feels like there are 1 or 2 mechanics too many.”
- “The gameplay leaves much to be desired as there's literally only one game mode and that's it.”
- “Good fun but very bad explanation for in-game mechanics!”
story
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
77%
3%
The game's story mode has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and a good introduction to game mechanics, while others criticize it for being unbalanced, riddled with bugs, and lacking depth. Many players suggest that the story missions serve primarily as tutorials rather than a compelling narrative experience, and some recommend skipping them in favor of multiplayer or succession modes. Overall, while the story mode can be fun and challenging, it may not satisfy those seeking a rich, story-driven single-player experience.
- “The story mode is fun and gets challenging as you progress.”
- “While I haven't played multiplayer, I have played most of the story missions and I've had my money's worth of enjoyment playing this well-made game.”
- “The story missions are actually kind of compelling and function as a really good tutorial for not just the game mechanics but also strategy tradeoffs.”
- “The gameplay should stay simple, but the story has lost too much complexity.”
- “Do not play the story scenarios, they are extremely unbalanced, and have multiple issues.”
- “If you are expecting a deep story-driven single-player experience, it may not be the game for you.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse factions and leaders, each with unique mechanics and play styles, allowing players to experiment with various strategies. With around 30 different faction styles and impactful technologies, players can enjoy a complex and engaging experience, although some users noted a lack of variety in its current state. Overall, the combination of distinct empire types and leader powers contributes to a rich and replayable gameplay experience.
- “There's also about a dozen different empire types that all have unique game mechanics, as well as multiple variations on each empire type that increases singleplayer replayability.”
- “The replayability is high as each faction feels very different, and the three leaders you can choose from for each faction encourage different play styles even within a single faction.”
- “Extremely replayable, surprising depth from intuitive mechanics, heavy player interaction, and I personally really enjoy the mind games that come from simultaneous turns!”
- “It lacks variety and replayability in its current state.”
- “Love this: it poses a complex, sophisticated challenge, with a lot of replay value -- but the learning curve is difficult, in order to win with smart, alternate scoring strategies.”
- “Well thought-out mechanics, balanced and replayable.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
20%
13%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, featuring good visuals and unique faction designs, though some users note that ship graphics can be less impressive compared to the stunning backgrounds. Performance can feel sluggish at times, and there are limited options for graphical adjustments, which may affect players on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are appealing and easy to interpret, the game is still in early access, indicating room for improvement.
- “This is a well-made game, graphics are good, sound, effects, and UI are all good.”
- “Each faction was exquisitely designed with a lot of unique characteristics and superb artwork.”
- “Graphics and music are incredibly well done.”
- “The graphics performance feels a little sluggish; I wish there was a browsable tech tree and a better way to visualize your 'deck' of edicts.”
- “It can be a little less intuitive at first, and you don't have a lot of graphic changing options, which is unfortunate if you're playing on a low-end computer, but my old laptop from 2016 runs it just fine at 30fps.”
- “It's still in early access and it shows, with some story arcs not fully voiced; the graphics of the ships are noticeably worse than the amazing solar backdrops behind the battles, and there are no alterable (or viewable) keybindings.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised, described as "absolutely to die for" and contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere, though some users express disappointment over the lack of an available soundtrack. While the visuals and music are noted to be well-executed, there are calls for more variety in the music, with one orchestral track being considered annoying. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, but its limited availability and variety are points of contention.
- “Graphics and music are incredibly well done.”
- “Yes, could use more music.”
- “Great visuals + atmospheric soundtrack -- with only 1 annoying orchestral track.”
- “The music is absolutely to die for, and left me disappointed when I couldn’t find the OST available anywhere!”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have several bugs, including glitches that can cause frozen end-turns, but these issues are generally easy to resolve. Despite these problems, players note that the game loads quickly and runs smoothly overall.
- “This game is buggy.”
- “However, it is buggy.”
- “Buggy garbage.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
16%
67%
The monetization model of the game is favorable, as it features no microtransactions and allows players to unlock content quickly. However, there are significant concerns regarding the lack of advertising and the confusing branding change from "Stellaris: Nexus" to "Nexus 5X," which may hinder its visibility in the market.
- “There are no microtransactions and the unlockables come pretty quickly.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is I feel like Paradox Arc didn't spend enough money advertising the game.”
- “It sucks the branding was switched from Stellaris: Nexus to Nexus 5X since there's a phone with the same name, and advertising is pretty much non-existent.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is generally satisfactory, with smooth performance and appealing graphics, though some users note a slight sluggishness in graphics performance. There are also calls for improved features, such as a browseable tech tree and better visualization of game elements, which could enhance the overall experience.
- “Overall looks good, runs smoothly, and it is okay for the game, relying on a maximum of 60 minutes of single match gameplay.”
- “The graphics performance feels a little sluggish; I wish there was a browsable tech tree and a better way to visualize my 'deck' of edicts.”
- “The graphics performance feels a little sluggish; I wish there was a browsable tech tree and a better way to visualize my 'deck' of edicts.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, particularly when playing with friends via voice chat, which enhances the experience and leads to hilarious moments. While it may not be the best solo option, the multiplayer aspect provides a uniquely entertaining and funny experience.
- “There's better options if you're looking for something fun to do by yourself, but being on voice chat with 3-7 friends is one of the most hilarious and fun gaming experiences I've ever had.”
- “Funny quick version of Stellaris!”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by great visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack, effectively capturing the essence of a tabletop battle experience without the hassle of physical components. However, there is one orchestral track that some players find annoying. Overall, the developers have successfully created an immersive environment that resonates with fans of digital board games.
- “The developers know exactly what they wanted, and it's a digital board game that brings the atmosphere of an excellent tabletop battle without the need to fiddle about with board hexes and spaceship miniatures.”
- “Great visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the games, noting that the micro-management involved is both rewarding and efficient, making the overall experience feel faster and less tedious.
- “Games are faster with micro-management feeling rewarding and not tedious.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers feel that the game currently lacks the emotional depth needed to fully convey the weight of political struggles and social dilemmas, expressing hope for future updates that could enhance these aspects and create a more emotionally engaging experience.
- “The absolute crushing weight of the constant political struggles, backroom deals, and dynamic diplomacy is lost in the translation of format, but I hope in the future that this game can flesh out those areas to bring in more of those emotionally taxing but oh so fantastic social dilemmas.”