Summary
- Star Ruler 2 offers deep empire-building mechanics and massive control rarely seen in modern games.
- Stellaris sets a standard for grand strategy games with a mix of complexity and player freedom.
- X4: Foundations allows players to fully automate empire management on a galactic scale.
Ever since Spacewar!, one of the first-ever video games, was developed in 1962, space has been a rich source of inspiration for game developers. There are rail shooter space games that play very much like old arcade cabinets, accurate space simulation games that aim to be realistic, and a whole host of other genres in between.
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Many space games simply follow the adventures of the player, with them being limited to a single ship or a small group of ships. Others are strategy games, with the player controlling whole fleets of ships. Then there are space games that follow one of these two directions, but also allow the player to control or own regions of space, and begin building an empire.
8 Star Ruler 2
Build Massive Interstellar Civilizations
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux
- Released: March 27, 2015
- Developer: Blind Mind Studios, Glacicle
- Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Star Ruler 2 is something of an underappreciated gem when it comes to 4X strategy games set in space, which is a shame, as it has some of the deepest and most complex empire-building mechanics of any game. Furthermore, the sheer scale of the empire that the player can build and control has seldom been equaled in more modern games.
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The player has to micromanage every aspect of their empire, including diplomacy, trade, resource collection, and logistics. Many of these features are quite advanced. For example, trade networks need to be established and maintained before the player can begin trading. Overall, Star Ruler 2 is a great first entry on this list, and well worth playing today.
7 Stellaris
Real-Time Space Empire Grand Strategy Game
Stellaris
- Released
- May 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Violent References, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Grand Strategy
Stellaris, on launch, set the standard for real-time grand strategy games, showing how a complex game can be managed using a simple, easy-to-understand interface. With its many DLCs, Stellaris still has a huge following at the time of writing.
When starting a new game, the player has to choose a race and the traits that race will begin with. The game then starts, and the player is tasked with not only dominating the entire map but also surviving the end-game challenge. They are free to expand their empire through military might, or by convincing other empires to become vassal states. Eventually, the player can end up controlling the entire game map.
6 Sins Of A Solar Empire 2
Deep And Strategic Empire Building Game
Sins of a Solar Empire 2
- Released
- August 15, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Strategy
Building on the gameplay from Sins Of A Solar Empire: Rebellion, this latest offering in the Sins Of A Solar Empire franchise is the most refined yet. The player must compete for control of star systems against AI-operated empires, and aim to control the map. This sounds simple, but is made challenging by the sheer aggression that some AI factions exhibit.
The game focuses mostly on space combat, and the real-time space battles and fleet engagements are exciting to watch. Fleet and planetary development are crucial in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, as is unlocking the right technology at the right time so that the player maintains technological parity or superiority over neighboring factions.
5 Elite Dangerous
Far More Than A Space Sim
Elite Dangerous
- Released
- December 16, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Few games have a heritage as impactful as Elite Dangerous. Harking back to the original Elite game that was released for the BBC Micro in 1984, which set in stone many of the common features of space sims we still see today, Elite Dangerous added ground-based content in the Odyssey DLC, but it is the Trailblazers update that has earned it a place on this list.
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Since Trailblazers went live, players have been able to colonize entire star systems. Once a star system has been claimed, players can build stations, outposts, and ground-based colonies. Further systems can be colonized by the player to build an empire of interconnected systems.
4 Master Of Orion
A Classic 4X Space Strategy Empire Building
Master of Orion
When Master of Orion was first released, it did a lot to revitalize the 4X space strategy genre. It included many common gameplay features, but with a level of polish that was above average at the time. The addition of great voice acting from icons such as Mark Hamill was a nice touch, too.
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Building a huge empire in Master of Orion is something every player will need to do, but not always through military might. Other options exist, such as diplomacy, which is key, with AI factions responding to the player’s political stance. The turn-based combat is slick and easy to control, and overall, this was a definitive 4X game.
3 Endless Space 2
Narrative-Driven Empire-Building Space Strategy
Endless Space 2
- Released
- October 6, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, 4X
Endless Space 2 is a visually pleasing game. Some real effort has been put into standardizing the aesthetics across all parts of the game, from the UI to the space battle scenes. This attention to detail is evident throughout the game, including in the compelling narrative that helps the player logically progress through the game, building their empire as they go.
The 4X aspects of Endless Space 2 are deep, bordering on micromanagement overload at times. Diplomacy, trade, and empire politics are hugely important for managing and growing an intergalactic empire. The fleet engagements are partly automated, with the player making tactical choices at appropriate times. Overall, as empire-building games go, Endless Space 2 is immersive, but will take time to master.
2 Civilization: Beyond Earth
Build A Massive Empire On An Alien World
Civilization: Beyond Earth
- Released
- October 24, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy, Strategy
Civilization: Beyond Earth pays tribute to the classic strategy game, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, which took the classic Civilization style of gameplay and shifted it into a sci-fi setting. In Beyond Earth, players have to colonize an alien world and build their empire into a successful civilization.
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The player is free to shape their empire how they see fit, with the ingenious way that technology unlocks are handled doing much to provide this freedom. The player will need to resolve political problems, explore and expand their territory, and strive to survive and adapt to their alien environment. Overall, Civilization: Beyond Earth does a great job of being a sci-fi-based Civ game.
1 X4: Foundations
Fully Automate An Empire
X4: Foundations
- Released
- November 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
X4: Foundations is the latest game in the X franchise, and, at the time of writing, has added another six DLCs' worth of content, each of which expands the gameplay and the galaxy map. No other game allows the player to set up such a comprehensive empire infrastructure as X4.
Every ship can be controlled by the player or automated using an AI pilot to perform actions such as auto-trading, auto-mining, stocking production facilities, selling manufactured wares, and exploring and protecting areas of space. The player can build massive integrated production chains by constructing stations, including whole shipyards. There are two alien threats, the Xenon and the Khaak, as well as 22 major and minor factions to interact with. Overall, X4 fully deserves the top spot on this list due to the sheer scope of the empire automation that is possible.
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