Star Ruler 2
- March 27, 2015
- Blind Mind Studios
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"Star Ruler 2" is a real-time grand strategy game that allows players to build and manage their own space empire. With fully destructible planets and a procedurally generated galaxy, players can engage in interstellar warfare, diplomacy, and research to expand their territory and ensure their species' survival. The game also features a multi-threaded simulation engine, enabling large-scale battles and complex political dynamics.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Innovative and unique mechanics that differentiate it from other 4X games.
- Deep ship design and customization options that allow for creative strategies.
- Engaging diplomacy system that adds depth to the gameplay.
- Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players.
- UI can become cluttered and confusing, especially in larger games.
- AI behavior can be inconsistent, leading to unbalanced gameplay.
- gameplay346 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Star Ruler 2 is characterized by its complex mechanics and innovative systems, blending real-time strategy with 4X elements, which can be both rewarding and daunting for players. While many appreciate the depth and unique features such as ship design and a card-based diplomacy system, others find the learning curve steep and the gameplay loop unclear, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging mechanics and challenges, making it a notable entry in the 4X genre, though it may require significant time investment to fully appreciate.
“Star Ruler 2 is a very complex game, but once you get the hang of the mechanics, it is a very fun and rewarding game.”
“The core gameplay loop is really addictive and easy to learn, but there seems to be a lot of depth built off of that as well.”
“Excellent game, the mechanics are very fun and the gameplay is deep and satisfying.”
“The gameplay loop is entirely unclear, and at this point it barely even matters whether or not the game is fun once understood because I just don't have the time to spend figuring it out.”
“The big problem with Star Ruler 2 is the introduction of a new puzzle-like mechanic where you have to set import links between your planets.”
“I quite liked Star Ruler 1, but Star Ruler 2... I just cannot fathom how the developers managed to mess up the gameplay so much, less so how the developers thought that this was turning out to be a game that is actually fun to play.”
- graphics134 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive 3D visuals and the ability to zoom in on detailed ship designs and large-scale battles, while others criticize them as basic or low-budget. Many players appreciate the aesthetic and customization options, though some note that the user interface can detract from the overall visual experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a step up from previous titles, but there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of polish and detail.
“The graphics are actually very nice, and you can zoom in to see the details of a ship, or zoom out until the whole galaxy takes up a third of your screen.”
“Graphically, the game is very pretty to look at.”
“The graphics are great and you can zoom into almost everything to see detailed graphics, and depending on the computer you can see the huge battles as they take place with a great level of detail and epicness.”
“The graphics are fairly poor and controls at times are complicated - mouse scroll for example never worked well.”
“Lastly, and this is a very minor negative but might be something scaring off a lot of people, the graphics for this game aren't great; I've mentioned this before and I've also mentioned the reason for it in passing.”
“Graphics are not finished; expect some rather dire pixel art in places that are not finished yet.”
- optimization40 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users noting its smooth performance even on mid-range systems and during large-scale battles. While some players experienced minor lag with an excessive number of star systems, the engine generally handles complex scenarios well, making it a standout in the space 4X genre. The interface is also described as user-friendly, contributing to a seamless gaming experience.
“Ridiculously well optimized.”
“Even with all the action on screen—thousands of ships firing at each other—the performance remains stable and top notch.”
“It's a well-optimized game.”
“There's performance issues with a very large number of star systems.”
“So many planets sometimes be laggy; maybe there should be better optimization, but I am talking about so many.”
“The more planets available, the more options, so it's kind of a moot point - but it does bring up performance issues in the game if you have too much around.”
- music32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its trippy, chill, and groovy sci-fi vibe, while others find it basic and repetitive. Many recommend purchasing the DLC for a more extensive soundtrack, as the free version lacks music entirely. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its atmosphere, it could benefit from greater variety and depth.
“I love the haunting music which suits the game and my play style well.”
“The music falls more on the groovy end of the spectrum of sci-fi soundtracks: blips and boops, a nice bass that isn't overpowering, very chill, very comfy.”
“Great scalable UI, catchy strange music, atmospheric graphics that indicate very well.”
“The music is basic and nothing special. Graphics feel low budget, but still you can see the developer trying hard with what they can.”
“Graphics never mean much to me in these types of games, and the soundtrack didn't do anything for me.”
“The soundtrack is fine, but it could be more extensive.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and unfun, overshadowing more enjoyable elements like combat and ship design. Players find the mechanics, such as planet leveling and resource management, to be time-consuming and frustrating, often leading to a sense of torture rather than enjoyment. While some systems are automated to reduce tedium, the overall experience is marred by repetitive tasks that detract from the game's potential.
“Bluntly, this is tedious, unfun, and dominates the game to the point you spend way more time doing it than you actually do fighting, designing ships, or doing anything else in the game.”
“This game is just endless unnecessary tediousness, and it is more torture than fun.”
“It makes the game tedious and just not worth playing.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game boasts extremely high replayability, largely due to its customizable galaxy generation, diverse mechanics, and unique features like modular ship design and diplomacy cards. While many players find it engaging enough for multiple playthroughs, some feel that after exploring different races and strategies, the novelty may wear off. Overall, it offers a rich experience with significant replay value, though it may not be infinitely replayable for everyone.
“Game offers quite a lot of replayability with a lot of control over what kind of galaxy or even galaxies to generate, and the size of the galaxies has quite a lot of effect on how crucial speed is.”
“Some really nice mechanics, like the diplomacy cards, the research trees with hidden branches, and the sheer volume of customizability make this a really unique and fun game with plenty of replayability.”
“Once you see how everyone works together, and learn to take advantage of the different systems, I think this game has more depth and more replayability than its predecessor.”
“However, if you are looking for a space 4X game with infinite replay value, then this is probably your ticket.”
“Looks good, runs great, fun to play, game style is fairly unique, discovery and mystery abound, the replay value is infinite; the only thing missing is some more refinement on the UI.”
“Replayable many times with many difficulties, and races that have inherently different mechanics.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted, with players enjoying its clever terminology and amusing scenarios, such as the chaotic combat mechanics and unexpected outcomes. Many reviewers express that the developers have a strong sense of humor, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience that keeps players laughing throughout their gameplay. Despite some frustrations with AI difficulty, the comedic elements remain a standout feature.
“I've been laughing uncontrollably since I bought this gem of a game.”
“The combat is always fun, although it has little to do with you actually managing the fight; it's still really funny hyperspacing a giant fleet into a star system and watching them kill everything!”
“Heheh, today I found out that the developers of this game have a sense of humor.”
- story16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered generic, with minimal narrative depth and limited race variety. While the setting has some appeal, players feel that the absence of a campaign or handcrafted missions detracts from immersion and learning opportunities. Overall, a more developed storyline could enhance the experience and engage new players.
“Even the story and the setting is somewhat nice.”
“A storyline would also help not only get new people into the game and learn the mechanics but also immerse people into the lore of the game.”
“Backstory: this game was released not two weeks before the much-anticipated Stellaris.”
“You can pick a variety of galaxies as well as do co-op, and configure everything, but there's no campaign or handcrafted missions/galaxies to play in.”
“Story: generic”
“- Not a whole lot of race variety, and I haven't seen much of a story for the game, aside from a little bit of fluff on the race selection screen.”
- stability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its appealing visuals and enjoyable gameplay, but it suffers from significant stability issues, including crashes and various bugs that can affect different setups regardless of PC specifications. While it remains playable, users report glitches such as disappearing support ships and issues with construction, indicating a need for further refinement and polish.
“Looks good, runs great, fun to play, game style is fairly unique, discovery and mystery abound, the replay value is infinite, the only thing missing is some more refinement on the UI.”
“Some game setups will cause your game to crash or get very buggy, regardless of the PC specs.”
“Getting glitches with the support ship list, support ships disappearing, complete construction with docks, and components can't use any other FTL.”
“It's buggy but playable and feels a lot better than Star Ruler.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its breathtaking visuals and seamless transitions, allowing players to zoom from a vast universe down to individual ships or planets. The atmospheric graphics, combined with catchy and unique music, create an immersive experience that enhances the overall gameplay.
“That's just the beginning with customizing your game; then you get into this beautiful, breathtaking universe you set up and realize you can zoom from seeing the entire universe all the way down to a single ship or planet, observing the atmospheric weather on the planet with seamless movement.”
“Great scalable UI, catchy strange music, and atmospheric graphics that indicate very well.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express strong negative emotions towards the game, highlighting its punishing difficulty for newcomers, which leads to frustration and a sense of hopelessness. The repetitive failures contribute to feelings of boredom and sadness, making the experience emotionally draining.
