Any Stellaris Players Here?

[Huntn]

There is a sale on an Stellaris expansion at Steam for the next 18 hours and I was wondering if we have any current or former Stellaris players here? I looked in my Steam Library and have the original game in my library, but never played it, and now I’m looking at an expansion pack for $9.

If so, to the question is this game more like Home World, a space based Civilization, Elite Dangerous, or more like X4: Foundations? Of note, loved X3 and Home World, but was disappointed with X4. I might go back and revisit X4. That game is unique because you can set up Captains to run trade routes for you, you can build space station and if I remember correctly fly in the cockpit for fighter space combat. I liked Elite Dangerous for a time, but got bored with the routine of fighting pirates out in the asteroid belts and was not thrilled with it’s trading mechanisms.

 

[maflynn]

There is a sale on an Stellaris expansion at Steam for the next 18 hours

The game looks interesting. I don't know the differences between the base game, the galaxy edition, and the starter pack but it looks like if you want the DLCs that are defined in the starter pack, its better to get the bundle.

The game seems to be very popular:

 

[maflynn]

Just to add a bit more info, the early reviews had some negativity for the single player stuff - at least back in 2016. I don't know how much has changed between 2016 and 2023 but it seems the game is popular in the multiplayer arena. I didn't find anything specific about how the game has been improved but Paradox seems to continually add DLCs for it.

If I were to take the plunge (and there's only a few hours left). I would get the base game and see how it is. I don't think its worth getting the DLCs until I had time to play with it. The game does seem to go on sale fairly regularly, so I suppose waiting until the next sale to get the DLCs may not be a bad thing if I find the base game enjoyable.

 

[Huntn]

Just to add a bit more info, the early reviews had some negativity for the single player stuff - at least back in 2016. I don't know how much has changed between 2016 and 2023 but it seems the game is popular in the multiplayer arena. I didn't find anything specific about how the game has been improved but Paradox seems to continually add DLCs for it.

If I were to take the plunge (and there's only a few hours left). I would get the base game and see how it is. I don't think its worth getting the DLCs until I had time to play with it. The game does seem to go on sale fairly regularly, so I suppose waiting until the next sale to get the DLCs may not be a bad thing if I find the base game enjoyable.

I do have the base game and think I’ll just hold off on the DLC until I get a chance to try it and if pleased wait for the next sale.

Update:
I found:

Stellaris review

The latest Review,,,reviews, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at PC Gamer

www.pcgamer.com

…and it appears to be more like Civilization, but since it is not turned based*, more fluid, maybe like Homeworld, although Homeworld is light on diplomacy which is ok by me as I seem to be burned out on the Civilization Experience. For myself the ideal experience I’m looking for would be X3. Egosoft irritates me because they release unfinished games with Cliff like learning curves, and minimalist tutorials. Now it’s been a while since X4 was released so there maybe some good guides to be found on YouTube.

* I’m really turned off by turn based these days.

 

[Huntn]

2025- Based on @Plutonius’s suggestion after I complained about Regiments III (a RTS) in the Wargaming thread, I installed Stellaris last night. Not a straight tactical combat RTS, like Regiments or Homeworld, it’s a Civilization style, 4X, Strategy Empire Game. Not saying that’s bad. 🙂
So I started a new game, and opted to folllow the in-game tutorial. Via the upfront hyperdrive capability, I send a science ship to Alpha Centauri to survey, a routine first step, and Traditions pops up. One needs to be assigned. So I research. As part of a big picture plan, it must be researched, holy crap a lot there.
Then Technology needs to be researched. As part of a big picture plan, it must be researched, holy crap a lot there.
Then a Council Agenda Meeting was ready. At this point I called it a night cause it was going on midnight.

Although really what I’ve really wanted is a wargaming RTS like Wargaming: European Escalation where the AI does not kick my butt all over the map, I’m looking forward to continuing this, due to the promise of real time (RTS) not turn based combat, when that finally happens. I have played Civilization several times over the years enjoying it.

 

[cbum]

The only reason I would see for you to hold off on a $9 (!) deal is that the game is vast, and the many DLC's just expand the scope, so I would be overwhelmed at first. But you can always turn some DLCs off, so that would't really stop me.
I have been playing it for many years on my mac(s). While a "space game", it completely lacks Homeworld's 3D aspects, I believe the Civ analogy is more to the point, but it is vastly larger in scope.
It also does not fee like a RTS game (to me) - while it runs like one, I at least am constantly stoping it to respond to the many ongoing events and developments (e.g., tech discoveries etc). Resource management rapidly becomes a central issue, forcing difficult choices in prioritizing - if you hate micromanaging, it may not be for you.

 

[Plutonius]

There is a sale on an Stellaris expansion at Steam for the next 18 hours and I was wondering if we have any current or former Stellaris players here? I looked in my Steam Library and have the original game in my library, but never played it, and now I’m looking at an expansion pack for $9.

If so, to the question is this game more like Home World, a space based Civilization, Elite Dangerous, or more like X4: Foundations? Of note, loved X3 and Home World, but was disappointed with X4. I might go back and revisit X4. That game is unique because you can set up Captains to run trade routes for you, you can build space station and if I remember correctly fly in the cockpit for fighter space combat. I liked Elite Dangerous for a time, but got bored with the routine of fighting pirates out in the asteroid belts and was not thrilled with it’s trading mechanisms.

No need to get the expansions until you play through a basic game and decide if you like it. It will take awhile to get through a game.

Stellaris and Stellaris DLC is one of the many games that often go on sale.

You can actually automate many things within the game (you want to handle tech and diplomacy yourself).

 

[Huntn]

DLCs- I don't remember buying these (except the last one), but maybe I did when I made the original purchase on sale:

• Synthetic Dawn
• Utopia
• Horizon Signal
• Just purchased: Humanoids Species Pack: Better Voices, Ships, Stations, some other stuff...

There is a mobile version of this game, anyone play this on their iPad?

‎Stellaris: Galaxy Command

‎Stellaris, the bestselling Sci-Fi strategy game, is finally on your mobile! The universe has barely survived an inter-dimensional invasion that devastated vast swaths of the galaxy. The United Nations of Earth requires your assistance and contribution to rebuild galactic civilization. Take...

apps.apple.com