Sword of the Stars Complete Collection

About

"Sword of the Stars Complete Collection" is a 4X turn-based strategy game that takes players to space, where they will command a fleet of ships and expand their empire. The collection includes the base game and its three expansions, offering new races, ships, and gameplay features. Players must research technologies, manage resources, and engage in strategic combat to achieve victory.

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Play Modes

Sword of the Stars Complete Collection screenshot

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 581 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Unique and diverse races with different playstyles and FTL mechanics, enhancing replayability.
Engaging real-time combat system that allows for tactical decision-making and ship customization.
Randomized tech tree adds variety to each playthrough, making every game feel fresh and unique.

Steep learning curve with a confusing UI that can be overwhelming for new players.
AI can feel unbalanced, often leading to frustrating encounters and a sense of cheating.
Lack of in-depth diplomacy options and limited planetary management can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of deep strategic elements and unique mechanics for each race, offering a rich and engaging experience that rewards tactical and strategic thinking. While the game features a complex tech tree and ship design, it suffers from a lack of clear explanations for its mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve. Overall, players find the gameplay addictive and replayable, though some aspects may feel outdated or buggy.
- “The gameplay is deep and interesting, and rewards a player for playing well both tactically and strategically.”
- “Each race is unique and different from the others in substantive ways that affect gameplay.”
- “Ridiculously deep, engaging gameplay that can allow for 250+ hours for a single large game - a game filled with desperate struggles against merciless and highly adaptable AI in long late-night/early morning sessions.”
- “Nonsense, bad game mechanics, boring, and annoying.”
- “The mechanics seem almost purposefully obscure, with what little can be pieced together in any halfway reasonable amount of time ranging from frustratingly awkward to outright counter-intuitive, and I could swear some of what the videos cover was just flat out explained wrong.”
- “That being said, you will want to have a look online for a walkthrough/faq/similar to understand a lot of the game mechanics, because the tutorial is incredibly barebones and doesn't tell you very much, and plenty of stuff that is important is left unmentioned.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its early 2000s origins, yet many players find them serviceable and fitting for the gameplay experience. While some reviews express a desire for a graphical update or remaster, others appreciate the game's aesthetic and detail, particularly during ship combat. Overall, the visuals may not be cutting-edge, but they still hold up well enough to support the game's engaging mechanics.
- “Detail is good, graphics are legendary; I really enjoy this game.”
- “Graphics are great (although this is a game from the early 2000s, so don't expect cutting-edge graphics like games nowadays) and do a great job showing the pure scale of each game.”
- “All in all, Sword of the Stars is an impressive and addictive game that is starting to show its age graphically, but the fun factor and replayability keep me coming back to it.”
- “The graphics and UI are dated.”
- “It should also be noted that this game is pretty old now, so its graphics are dated.”
- “The downside of this game is that the interface can be kind of clumsy, it is fairly hard to learn, it lacks a story mode, and it just generally could use a bit more UI and graphics polish.”
replayability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
7%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its randomized tech tree and unique mechanics for each race, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike. Players appreciate the depth and variety offered by different research routes and faction abilities, which encourage exploration and adaptation. Despite its age, the game's engaging combat and extensive customization options contribute to its enduring appeal and high replay value.
- “The randomness of research only adds to the replayability—what worked brilliantly in one game could completely fail in another because this time the Zuul have somehow figured out how to fry your ships with tech they should not have.”
- “Endless variety and depth equals endless replayability.”
- “The extensive lore available for each alien race, each with a unique play style, plus the randomized tech tree gives the game an above-average amount of depth and replayability.”
- “Oh and did I mention complete replayability with enough RNG integrated into the game to make each and every playthrough feel completely different and lets you experience a whole new kind of game every time you play it.”
- “Plus all matches are basically 'kill everyone else' so not a whole load of replayability in the end.”
- “This game is deep, strategic, has a metric ton of replay value and a library of lore.”
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The game's story aspect is characterized by a lack of a traditional narrative, leading to mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the deep backstory and unique faction technologies that create a sense of emergent storytelling, others find the absence of a dedicated story mode disappointing. The gameplay allows for significant customization and strategic depth, which can lead to personal narratives shaped by player choices, but the overall storytelling experience is seen as inconsistent and reliant on player imagination.
- “If you have ever wanted to be the undying sage presence that guides an ancient race of space-faring birds as they subjugate the far reaches of the abyss, tearing through the galaxy on the quest to restore their empire to its former glory, buy this game!”
- “If you love a deep backstory, challenging gameplay, but a simple and easy-to-use interface, then get this game.”
- “Each part of it, from the races' different methods of travel to the semi-randomized tech tree, and not to mention the backstory, are all so well thought out.”
- “The downside of this game is that the interface can be kind of clumsy, it is fairly hard to learn, it lacks a story mode, and it just generally could use a bit more UI and graphics polish.”
- “Lack of a true 'story mode' may turn off some players.”
- “It's like hearing the plot of a movie and getting really excited, then watching the movie and hating it.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
89%
Overall, the game's stability is generally acceptable, with few bugs reported, though some users have experienced crashes and freezes during large battles. While the original game is praised for its performance on older systems and is considered superior to its sequel, which is criticized for being buggy and unfinished, players should be cautious of potential issues.
- “Classic game, runs great on older CPUs, and has almost infinite replay value.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, ensuring a smooth experience even during intense moments.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making my gameplay sessions consistently enjoyable.”
- “It's not bad, but a different gameplay than the first and a little buggy, so buyer beware.”
- “I wish the sequel wasn't so bug-ridden...”
- “I have also discovered it crashes and freezes regularly when commencing battles with large numbers of ships!”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with users noting its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the diverse cultural themes present in the gameplay. While some find the music to be forgettable, others appreciate the unique soundtracks associated with different races and the engaging voice acting during battles. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, earning a score of 7/10 from one reviewer.
- “Graphics and music are, as mentioned, quite good for the time.”
- “They're good races, and the game does take on a full different flavor with each having its own ship sets and music theme sets.”
- “Just as a brief example, 'Tarka have many musical traditions and hundreds of varieties of dance which range from historical re-enactments involving hundreds of costumed players to intimate exchanges between two Tarka — the only human equivalent might be the tango.' I've taken history classes with less history than this game.”
- “They're good races, and the game does take on a full different flavor with each having its own ship sets and music theme sets, etc.”
- “I really like the music and voice acting during the battles.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, particularly during the endgame when AI empires resist defeat longer than expected. While some appreciate the unique play styles and strategic depth, many feel overwhelmed by the amount of information to manage, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, despite the potential for rewarding gameplay.
- “The best part is that the game isn't tedious, and yet has a lot of depth and strategy.”
- “Really tedious and boring.”
- “I really want to like this game but it's just so tedious.”
- “Even on smaller maps, there is just way too much to keep track of, and towards the middle and end of the game it just becomes incredibly tedious.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its unexpected mechanics that challenge players, creating a mix of frustration and amusement. Players appreciate the entertaining atmosphere, with random events and formidable "galactic menaces" adding to the hilarity. Overall, the humor enhances the strategic gameplay, making it a standout experience compared to its sequel.
- “At times it honestly feels like the developers just thought it would be funny as hell to spring mechanics on you with no explanation just to watch you tear your hair out trying to figure out how they work.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, humor, and just all round solid, bug-free strategy fun.”
- “The game has random events and hilariously entertaining and vicious 'galactic menaces' - super powerful entities that can screw you up.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging sound design and humor, contributing to an enjoyable experience. While the music may not stand out, it effectively supports a pleasant ambiance, leading to an overall positive reception with an average rating of 8/10.
- “The sound and atmosphere of the game are great.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, humor, and just all-around solid, bug-free strategy fun.”
- “Music is forgettable but maintains a pleasant atmosphere in the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of Sword 2 is criticized as exploitative, with users labeling it a "cash grab" and highlighting significant issues that render the game unplayable.
- “Warning: this review in no way recommends the broken, unplayable cash grab that is Sword 2.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could have been enjoyable without the constant pressure to spend.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”