Space Wars: Interstellar Empires

About

Helm your own ship, battle for supremacy in a multi-faction war, and conquer the cosmos in this science fiction turn-based strategy game. Select from more than 100+ diverse star ships and fight for territory across a 2D hex-based grid. Advance your race’s control of the galaxy, defeat enemy factions and conquer the universe in the name of your people.

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Play Modes

Space Wars: Interstellar Empires screenshot

+15

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 172 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game offers a unique turn-based strategy experience with a focus on tactical decision-making and resource allocation.
The community is welcoming and helpful, providing support for new players to learn the game mechanics.
The graphics and ship designs are visually appealing, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

The game suffers from long wait times during battles, as each player has a limited time to make their moves, leading to tedious gameplay.
There are significant balance issues between factions, with some ships being overpowered compared to others, making it frustrating for new players.
The game lacks comprehensive tutorials and documentation, leaving new players confused about mechanics and strategies.

gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
60%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a deep, turn-based combat system with energy allocation mechanics, but players often find it overwhelming and lacking in meaningful progression without external help. While the tactical elements and strategic map interactions offer unique experiences, many users criticize the steep learning curve, insufficient explanations of game mechanics, and issues with matchmaking and guild creation. Despite these challenges, the game shows potential for improvement as it continues to develop in early access.
- “I like the energy allocation mechanics and the turn-based combat.”
- “Even in beta, the gameplay is fun.”
- “How you win or lose ships is up to you, but good teamwork and tactical gameplay (as well as the meta strategy on the big galaxy map) make for a fun game I've never seen in the online gaming industry.”
- “No meaningful ways to go up in levels unless you know someone who is higher level and exploits the game mechanics to get you higher faster.”
- “Words cannot describe how bad the design of the gameplay is.”
- “I advise anyone who is thinking of investing their time into this game to note the extensive lack of information, which in my opinion seems to be done on purpose to hide the lack of polish and the presence of faulty mechanics that simply don't work.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a cohesive campaign, with players primarily engaging in repetitive missions against NPC pirates to gain experience. While there is some lore and backstory related to factions and ships, many find the missions uninteresting and unrewarding, leading to a grind-heavy experience that may appeal only to hardcore players. However, there is potential for exciting narratives to emerge from player interactions and personal rivalries in the PvP environment.
- “You get to pick a free ship, fly around and learn to fight, find a team online when you are, and learn to pilot the ship that they need to win battles. Then, when you've gotten a bit better, you pick the bigger ships and find a team to train. The personal wars between great pilots and teams start up, leading to great stories and legends of how this commander or team risked everything they had worked for over weeks or months to win the game or save their homeworld. It's good, and it will be great; come and help me tell an awesome story.”
- “Then there's the lore behind each mission, which I only discovered later, and how much thought was put into the backstory.”
- “On top of the vast story behind the factions, there are numerous handcrafted and unique ships.”
- “No campaign or story.”
- “Overall this is a very niche PvP game, for very hardcore players, with plenty of time on their hands that don't mind grinding repetitive missions to get to PvP.”
- “Mission XP grants 10...with needing 1000 for your first captain level...not doing 100 missions for one level nor defending an invasion zone for little to no XP.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the unique designs and overall quality, while others find them mediocre and a potential drawback for attracting gamers. Despite being in beta and experiencing some graphical issues, many users express optimism about improvements due to the dedicated development team. Overall, the visuals are noted for their detail and appeal, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “Great graphics overall, good community of players willing to help teach and show the ropes and rules of the war effort. When an issue is noted or found, it is quickly resolved.”
- “By the way, I am impressed by the quality of the graphics.”
- “Great lore and excellent graphics; this game feels like a labor of love.”
- “This has some really mediocre looking graphics that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “It's pretty boring, seems just like a version of XCOM, but in space; graphics could be better, tutorial was boring and long.”
- “This game is in beta and as such has bugs being ironed out consisting of balance, playstyle, and graphical issues.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often requiring over 100 hours for minimal experience gains, particularly due to unbalanced character progression and low player population. Many express frustration with the need for constant farming and the challenges posed by AI opponents, which can make the experience feel monotonous and unfulfilling. Overall, while some appreciate the game's construction, the grind detracts significantly from enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “Game is far too grindy and in the end not very fun.”
- “Expect to put in over 100 hours of grinding for pitiful XP (killing AI gives 1/5th the XP of humans, but there are no opposing humans to farm since no one plays and you're not competitive at lower tiers).”
- “The low population makes grinding out sectors dull and gives very little payout for the hours of work.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players noting that it is not truly free due to pervasive mobile-style microtransactions. However, all in-game purchases are limited to cosmetic items, which may mitigate some concerns about pay-to-win mechanics.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't hinder gameplay.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to support developers without feeling pressured to spend.”
- “It's just a cash grab that failed.”
- “On pricing and value for gamers, this isn't really free as the game is infested with mobile app store-like microtransactions.”
- “Any in-game purchases are strictly cosmetic.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The music in the game is considered average, with some players recommending listening to classical music while playing, especially when facing challenging enemies like Genari tier 5. Overall, it serves as a background element rather than a standout feature.
- “The music adds a unique atmosphere to the game, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “I highly recommend joining the game and enjoying the classical music while you navigate the challenges.”
- “The soundtrack really complements the gameplay, making each moment feel more immersive.”
- “The music was okay.”
- “I would suggest you join the game, but perhaps listen to some classical music, as you'll die a lot to Genari tier 5; the tier 3 can be dealt with.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game is somewhat buggy, indicating issues with stability that may affect the overall experience.
- “The game is a little buggy.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
- “There are numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is characterized by heightened stakes that enhance the overall tension, necessitating effective communication among players.
- “This type of atmosphere raises the stakes; it also means that communication is a must.”
- “The immersive environment completely draws you in, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and detailed visuals create a sense of unease that keeps you on edge throughout the game.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
- “The environment is lifeless, making it hard to feel any connection to the game world.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game has been receiving weekly patches aimed at addressing bugs and improving optimization, indicating a commitment to enhancing performance and user experience.
- “They've been releasing weekly patches for bug fixes and optimizations.”
- “The game's performance has significantly improved thanks to the recent optimizations.”
- “I appreciate how the developers are committed to optimizing the gameplay experience.”
- “The game feels sluggish and poorly optimized, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Despite the frequent updates, the optimization issues remain a major hindrance to the overall experience.”
- “I often encounter frame drops and stuttering, which really detracts from the immersion.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game offers strong replayability through its multiple starting factions, currently featuring the Genari and Sol Imperial Worlds, with plans to expand to two additional factions, the Ma'alaketh and the Hive, enhancing the variety of gameplay experiences.
- “There are two starting factions, the Genari and the Sol Imperial Worlds, with plans to include two more playable factions: the Ma'alaketh and the Hive.”
- “The variety of factions and their unique playstyles encourages multiple playthroughs, making each game feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With different strategies and outcomes based on faction choices, the game offers endless replayability.”
- “The game offers only two starting factions, which limits the variety in gameplay and makes it feel repetitive after a few playthroughs.”
- “With plans to include two more playable factions, the current lack of diversity in factions makes replayability feel lacking.”
- “The limited number of factions available at launch means that once you've played through the existing options, there's little incentive to replay.”