Nexus 5X

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,386 reviews

gameplay68 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Nexus 5X offers a fast-paced 4X experience that can be completed in 1-2 hours, making it perfect for quick gaming sessions with friends.
The game features a variety of factions and leaders, each with unique abilities, providing a high level of replayability and strategic depth.
The simultaneous turn system keeps gameplay engaging and reduces downtime, allowing for a more dynamic and interactive experience.

The multiplayer lobby is often empty, making it difficult to find games without a dedicated group of friends, which limits the online experience.
Some balancing issues exist, particularly with certain factions being overpowered, leading to frustration in competitive play.
The game lacks depth in single-player mode, with some players finding it less enjoyable when playing against AI.

gameplay
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of Stellaris Nexus is often compared to classic board games like Twilight Imperium and Eclipse, offering a streamlined 4X experience that emphasizes strategic depth and player interaction within a shorter playtime of about an hour to an hour and a half. While the game features a variety of unique factions and mechanics that cater to different playstyles, some players find the introduction of certain mechanics, such as espionage, to be problematic or overly complex. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and replayability, though it may require a learning curve for new players 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.”
- “While the turn-based gameplay is still generally fine at 30fps, the menu feels atrocious, and frankly with the PC I have, I shouldn't have any issues hitting far above 60fps consistently.”
- “It feels like there are 1 or 2 mechanics too many.”
- “Good fun but very bad explanation for in-game mechanics!”
story
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
79%
2%
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, buggy, 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.”
- “I loved it for the story mode!”
- “The story missions are actually kinda 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
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
Nexus 5x is praised for its high replayability, driven by a diverse array of factions and leaders that offer unique mechanics and play styles. Players can experiment with up to 30 different faction combinations, enhancing the game's depth and strategic complexity. However, some users note a lack of variety in certain aspects and express a desire for improved modding support to further enhance replay value.
- “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
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
18%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and unique faction designs, with a style reminiscent of Stellaris. However, some users report performance issues, sluggish framerates, and a lack of customization options, particularly for lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay limitations and technical shortcomings.
- “Each faction was exquisitely designed with a lot of unique characteristics and superb artwork.”
- “Great visuals + atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “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 toaster. However, 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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game is highly praised, described as "absolutely to die for" and complementing the visuals effectively, though some users express a desire for more variety. While the atmospheric soundtrack enhances the experience, there is mention of one orchestral track being annoying. Overall, the combination of great art and music contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “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 manageable. Despite these problems, players note that the game loads quickly and runs smoothly overall.
- “This game is buggy.”
- “However, it is buggy.”
- “Buggy garbage.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is decent, with smooth performance and a visually appealing design, though some users noted sluggish graphics and a desire for improved features like a browseable tech tree and better deck visualization. The gameplay is structured to maintain a reasonable pace, allowing for strategic thinking without excessive downtime, which enhances replayability despite some limitations in turn options.
- “Overall, it looks good, runs smoothly, and it is acceptable for the game, relying on a maximum of 60 minutes of single match gameplay.”
- “The graphics performance feels a little sluggish, but I wish there was a browsable tech tree and a better way to visualize your 'deck' of edicts.”
- “Meanwhile, 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.”
- “Just enough time to think things through without so much time that you wait for your opponent for 30 minutes to make some tiny turn optimization. The limited and pseudorandom options you have on a turn help keep the variety and replayability up, reduce the decision space for a single turn to something reasonable, all without making the game feel luck-based.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
17%
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, which may hinder its visibility and success.
- “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.”
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, contributing to a faster-paced experience rather than feeling 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. The potential for emotionally taxing scenarios is recognized, but the existing format does not adequately capture this complexity.
- “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.”