Stellaris

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 133,178 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Stellaris Game Cover
Stellaris captures the craziness and fun of sci-fi in an engaging, infinitely replayable strategy game.
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"Stellaris" is a 4X grand strategy game that lets players explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate their way across the galaxy. As the leader of a spacefaring civilization, players will encounter unique alien races, navigate political intrigue, and manage their empire's resources in this epic quest for galactic dominance. The Galaxy Edition includes a digital soundtrack, exclusive alien race, and a digital collector's book.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 133,178 reviews
gameplay3,543 positive mentions
optimization512 negative mentions
  • gameplay13,313 mentions

    Stellaris offers a complex and engaging gameplay experience, characterized by deep mechanics and extensive customization options for players. While the game excels in providing a rich strategic environment with numerous paths to victory, it suffers from a steep learning curve and frequent updates that can alter core mechanics, often requiring players to relearn aspects of the game. Additionally, many essential features are locked behind expensive DLCs, which can detract from the overall experience for those unwilling to invest further.

    • “The gameplay is a deep dive into space exploration and empire management, blending diplomacy and warfare with a dynamic event system that ensures no two playthroughs are alike.”
    • “The gameplay is deep and engaging, providing endless hours of high-quality entertainment.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly complex and even with a tutorial in the game explaining what each section of the menu does, it will take you a few hours to figure out how to play, and even longer to figure out how to play well.”
    • “While certainly crammed with micro-decisions and an extensive tech tree, Stellaris lacks an intriguing storyline or purpose for the player, and in an attempt to add gameplay is too limiting.”
    • “The definition of bland gameplay design: every single faction plays the same, bar that some have a 'I turned this feature off' or in some cases like robots or special races, 'we have less population growth which giga-nerfs us into the ground so no one wants to play us!'”
    • “The gameplay can feel a bit complex, annoying or boring from time to time, but you can easily sink tons of hours on every game, and you will probably end up feeling very connected to your empire, as it grows and takes shape with your help and guidance.”
  • story5,605 mentions

    The story aspect of Stellaris is characterized by its emergent storytelling, allowing players to create their own narratives through the choices they make while managing their empires. While the game lacks a traditional linear storyline, it offers a plethora of random events, quests, and anomalies that contribute to a unique experience in each playthrough, making it feel like a personalized space opera. However, some players feel that the depth of the story can diminish in the mid to late game, and the reliance on DLC for additional content can be frustrating. Overall, Stellaris is praised for its rich lore and the ability to craft individual stories, though it may not satisfy those seeking a structured narrative.

    • “Stellaris is a brilliant blend of strategy, creativity, and storytelling.”
    • “The variety of races, coupled with the ability to create your own, provides endless replayability, while the excellent story development keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The biggest strength of Stellaris is its incredible depth and replayability thanks to the emergent storytelling that arises organically from your actions and random events.”
    • “The story is largely 'make it yourself', making it good for role-players who want to play as the gecko who wants to enslave the xenos of the galaxy!”
    • “The game has no story mode and is more or less you deciding how you want to make up your galaxy with any empire you create in that galaxy sandbox.”
    • “The game does not have a main quest but there are events you can do and it can all fit into one story if you wish to write about it.”
  • graphics3,691 mentions

    The graphics in Stellaris are widely praised for their stunning visuals and intricate designs, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Many players appreciate the attention to detail in the artwork, from celestial bodies to ship designs, although some note that the graphics can feel basic or repetitive at times, especially in combat. Overall, while the graphics are not universally considered groundbreaking, they are generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, particularly when enhanced by mods.

    • “The visuals are stunning, making it easy to get locked into the game for hours.”
    • “From stunning planetary vistas to intricate ship designs, the visuals contribute to the immersive experience of exploring the unknown reaches of the galaxy.”
    • “Stellaris boasts beautiful graphics and an immersive soundtrack that aptly capture the grandeur of space and the intricacies of interstellar civilizations.”
    • “The graphics are meh, and the world is a bunch of dots in a disk.”
    • “The graphics are overall awful with human faces that all look like Mark Zuckerberg's test tube experiment gone wrong.”
    • “The graphics, while not a highlight, are still pretty good, and the amount of ways you can play your empire... gives this game a replayability factor that can get you hooked for countless hours.”
  • replayability3,559 mentions

    Stellaris is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its extensive customization options, procedurally generated galaxies, and a vibrant modding community that continually adds new content. Players can create unique empires with diverse traits and playstyles, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike, leading to potentially hundreds or even thousands of hours of gameplay. However, some reviews note that the base game may feel limited without additional DLC, which can enhance the overall experience and replay value significantly.

    • “The variety of races, coupled with the ability to create your own, provides endless replayability, while the excellent story development keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “This level of personalization ensures that each playthrough can be markedly different from the last, providing endless replayability.”
    • “The game's addictive nature and high replayability ensure that there's always something new to discover and conquer.”
    • “Very limited replayability but other than that decent game.”
    • “No replay value.”
    • “The same dialog and event chains occur over and over again, reducing the replay value.”
  • music2,544 mentions

    The music in Stellaris is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many players considering it one of the best soundtracks in gaming. Composed by Andreas Waldetoft, the soundtrack features a blend of orchestral and electronic elements that enhance the game's exploration and strategic gameplay. While some players note that the music can become repetitive over long play sessions, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's engaging experience.

    • “I do not post about games, but this one has some of the best background soundtracks of any computer game I am familiar with.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the cosmic adventure perfectly, enhancing the overall ambiance and drawing players even deeper into the game's rich atmosphere.”
    • “The music is a masterpiece in its own right, enhancing the sense of wonder and majesty that Stellaris exudes.”
    • “The ost also has to be the most boring set of songs ever conceived.”
    • “The music can get annoying, as it's just one continuously looping track.”
    • “The soundtrack gets repetitive eventually and annoying.”
  • optimization2,494 mentions

    The optimization of Stellaris has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing severe performance issues, particularly in the late game. While some updates have improved performance, especially in early game scenarios, the game still suffers from substantial slowdowns and stuttering as the number of entities increases, making it nearly unplayable on larger maps or with extensive empires. Overall, players express a strong desire for better optimization and a more robust handling of late-game performance issues, often recommending that potential buyers wait for further improvements before purchasing.

    • “Great performance and engaging story lines.”
    • “Lots of options for both roleplayers and optimized empires alike.”
    • “The custodian team they have is outstanding, updating old dlcs to be relevant and introducing a continual feed of improvements and optimizations on the base game.”
    • “Despite Paradox's efforts, the game still has horrible performance in its mid- and end-game stages.”
    • “The last useful addition to the game was the one that allowed the player to become the end-game crisis; everything after that is bloat and useless DLCs that hit the game's performance.”
    • “Late-game performance issues: as the game progresses and the number of systems, planets, and entities increases, the game can experience significant slowdowns and lag, especially on older or less powerful systems.”
  • grinding1,447 mentions

    The grinding aspect of Stellaris is widely criticized for being tedious and overly complex, particularly in the mid to late game. Many players find the micromanagement of resources, planets, and fleets to be a chore, leading to a repetitive and slow gameplay experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and strategic elements, the consensus is that the game often devolves into a grind, requiring excessive clicking and management that can feel more like a job than a fun gaming experience.

    • “It's usually not too tedious managing your empire unless you capture and colonize every planet you come across.”
    • “Core gameplay is fun, management isn't tedious, game isn't scripted.”
    • “Now, mostly, it isn't as tedious as it sounds because pops will auto-fill jobs as you create the buildings that generate jobs, but it still involves keeping an eye on each and every one of your planets to see if there aren't enough jobs.”
    • “The game feels tedious in mid/mid-late game but that's kind of what you ask for in these types of games anyways.”
    • “I really want to like this game but so many of the design choices make Stellaris more tedious than fun, I'll provide an example.”
    • “The war systems and planetary management are both the most annoying things in this game, having to tediously manage every planet in your empire can get very tiring.”
  • stability1,068 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios. While some players acknowledge improvements over time, the overall sentiment is that the game remains a "buggy mess," often requiring extensive troubleshooting and workarounds. Despite its potential and engaging gameplay, the persistent technical problems significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “I own a 10-year-old PC, and it still runs great even in the endgame.”
    • “There are just so many things in this game done so well and there's so little that needs work, and it's almost entirely bug free at launch in my experience, which is so rare these days.”
    • “It runs great on systems both new and old, and the DLC scheme isn't punishing to those of us who might not want to spend too much on our games.”
    • “Would be perfect if it wasn't so broken; I want achievements but I'm forced to deal with a commitment mode for that to be possible; unfortunately, I constantly run into scenarios of the game glitching the hell out (most recent being me activating a seed pod to grow on a planet and it just didn't and of course there's no refund for the costs to simply retry -_-) for a game this big and around for this long the amount of glitches ruining my runs is unacceptable.”
    • “Consistently crashes around the year 2300; it freezes then minimizes before crashing. I had this issue years back and subsequently stopped playing. I came back to the game recently to find the issue still has not been fixed. Don't waste your money on a completely unplayable game.”
    • “The game has huge potential, but unfortunately it's extremely buggy and some things are completely breaking the game.”
  • humor604 mentions

    The humor in Stellaris is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its quirky and absurd scenarios, such as engaging in space genocide while laughing at the chaos. The game is filled with funny events, witty dialogue, and unexpected outcomes that keep players entertained, especially in multiplayer settings where shared experiences amplify the hilarity. Despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the overall comedic tone and the ability to create ridiculous alien civilizations contribute to a fun and memorable gaming experience.

    • “Stellaris is the only game where I can experience colonizing a planet to find funny flowers that made the leaders have poor communication or where I can find myself spending months at an archaeology site digging up old space shanty songs and claiming the lyrics....all around a great time to spend hours playing and realizing you just time skipped 3 to 6 hours!”
    • “The stuff you can do in this game is hilarious and insane.”
    • “The narratives and rivalries that emerged were engaging and often hilarious.”
  • atmosphere373 mentions

    Stellaris is widely praised for its immersive atmosphere, characterized by stunning visuals, a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, and rich lore that enhances the sense of space exploration. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating environment filled with diverse alien cultures and engaging narratives, making it a standout in the grand strategy genre. Despite some gameplay flaws, the atmospheric elements consistently draw players in, providing a unique and memorable experience.

    • “The atmosphere and setting of this game is unparalleled.”
    • “The visuals are stunning and the sound design is epic, creating an atmosphere that keeps you hooked.”
    • “Its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack accentuates the sense of wonder and exploration, while its ambient effects immerse players in the vastness of space, fostering a meditative and introspective atmosphere.”
    • “Just tried it again and from the feeling and atmosphere, unfortunately, it still is a cold game for me (though I really was hoping it'll change over the months and years since there are many great things or nice starting points for great potential).”
    • “What the game absolutely nails in its atmosphere, lore, and wonder, it largely betrays with the simple shell of an RTS model it chooses to employ.”
    • “The atmosphere still captures me, the music, the visuals are remarkable, but after the rush of the first few hours all this fades away and leaves a very slow-paced, empty game behind.”
  • monetization302 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game, primarily through extensive DLCs and microtransactions, has drawn significant criticism from users, who describe it as a "cash grab" that detracts from the overall experience. Many players express frustration over the high costs associated with acquiring all content, often exceeding $300, and the introduction of in-game advertisements further exacerbates their dissatisfaction. While some acknowledge that certain DLCs add value, the overwhelming sentiment is that the monetization practices are exploitative and diminish the game's integrity.

    • “Fair monetization policy; they ask a lot, currently ~$120 for everything during the sale, but they deliver a lot. Every DLC patch/addition comes with free updates as well.”
    • “I do not mind supporting excellent projects like Stellaris; the DLC content is a little pricey, but a 'many-times-better' choice than in-game purchases.”
    • “Stellaris may have more expansions and coincidentally more microtransactions, but the amount of content per transaction is totally worth it.”
    • “To buy the game + all of its DLC (disguised microtransactions), you need to spend around 300 dollars.”
    • “The primary reason this falls over into 'not recommended' is the monetization model vs actually delivered experience for the end user.”
    • “It's incredibly disheartening when a game I've put thousands of hours into over the years has become an uncomfortable and disappointing cash grab.”
  • emotional190 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players expressing both deep attachment and heartbreak. Many find the experience engaging and wholesome, feeling a strong connection to the civilizations they create, while others lament the game's decline due to performance issues and monetization practices, leading to feelings of disappointment and emotional investment that feels unfulfilled. Overall, the game evokes a range of emotions, from joy and nostalgia to frustration and sadness, making it a compelling yet sometimes painful experience.

    • “Absolutely emotionally and intellectually compelling, with a billion percent replay value.”
    • “This game more than any other made me feel like the species and civilizations I create are really my own.”
    • “It was 5am, and I cried myself to sleep, not because I had an important ethics test which I didn't study for the next day, but because of this game.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that character development in the game is minimal, with players expressing a desire for more depth to engage with the leaders and their empires. While some personality is present among the empires, the overall presentation and character design lack innovation, and the sandbox nature of most 4X games limits the potential for in-depth storytelling.

    • “There needs to be at least some basic character development implemented so I actually care about the leader.”
    • “I witness AI management of empires falling into all kinds of different categories: from highly successful to 'so bad the whole empire broke down.' The other empires have a bit of personality, but there is nothing groundbreaking in terms of presentation or character design.”
    • “Most 4X games are sandbox environments, which means no in-depth plot or character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy Stellaris

Play time

135hMedian play time
352hAverage play time
31hMain story
277hCompletionist
25-600hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1,322 analyzed playthroughs

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