Gamers who enjoy 4X strategy gameplay may like to take a look at Sins Of A Solar Empire 2. It mixes many grand strategy aspects with a modern, real-time style of gameplay that brings a certain urgency to the game, making it a lot more frantic than a traditional turn-based 4X game.
Sins Of A Solar Empire 2: All Gameplay Settings, Explained
There are several gameplay options for Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, and it is important to know what each of them does.
As with almost all grand strategy games, a player must undertake research projects to open up new technologies and provide additional bonuses. There are two research trees; civic research and military research. Each tree can be working on a single research project at once. Research takes research points, and then a set period of time to complete researching the project.
7 Civilian I
Basic Civic Research
- Research time: 30 seconds
- Bonuses: +1 credit income
There are 5 tiers of civilian research in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2. Unlocking each tier, in turn, enables the research of the advanced subjects below it. Therefore, Civilian I is a research project that every player will want to complete first in this sci-fi game.
Sins Of A Solar Empire 2: Best Planetary Infrastructure To Build First
Getting a good start in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2 means building the right infrastructure at the right time.
The bonus in unlocking this research isn’t in the +1 credit income, it is the fact that it opens up further research options that are extremely valuable in the early game. Put simply, research this first in every game, as it is needed.
6 Military I
Basic Military Research
- Research time: 30 seconds
- Bonuses: Max armor points +5%
As with civilian research, there are 5 tiers of military research in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2. These are the basic research projects that unlock further, advanced research. Therefore, the first tier should be unlocked as soon as possible when starting a new game and beginning to build an empire.
Without unlocking this first tier, the player won’t be able to research any of the ships that they need to begin exploring the galaxy and settling on new planets and habitable asteroids that they discover. It should be done right after the Civilian I research in every game.
5 Deep Core Metal Mining
Boost Mining Output
- Research time: 60 seconds
- Bonuses: Metal surface mining rate +15%
Despite the fact that the +15% boost to the amount of surface metal being mined is quite low, the fact that this research only takes 60 seconds to complete, makes it a no-brainer. At the start of a Sins Of A Solar Empire 2 game, it makes sense to get this research done.
By prioritizing Deep Core Metal Mining, the player will benefit from the bonus at a time they most need it, during the time they will spend waiting for resources to become available to build out their basic infrastructure. Later in the game, space mining is possible on asteroids.
4 Derelict Specialists
Capture Derelicts Faster
- Research time: 60 seconds
- Bonuses: Derelict Capture Time -100%, Derelict Capture Experience +50%
At the start of a new game of Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, a player will spend quite some time exploring the star systems adjacent to, and a little away from their home system. It is highly likely that the player will discover a number of derelicts in doing so. This research ensures that the player gets the most from these.
The Best Grand Strategy Games Of All Time, Ranked
The best grand strategy games are often played out over several centuries, with some leaning into the immersion and role-play aspects of these eras.
Derelicts only spawn once per game, so getting this research done before exploiting any derelicts makes good sense. Mostly due to the fact that the player will get 50% more experience for every derelict they exploit once this research is done.
3 Efficient Crystal Sorting
Boosts Crystal Income
- Research time: 90 seconds
- Bonuses: Crystal surface mining rate +15%
Every player who is starting out in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, is going to need crystals to construct important parts of their basic infrastructure. Therefore, it is well worth prioritizing Efficient Crystal Sorting as valuable research at the start of the game.
However, this research doesn’t need to be completed until all of the other research covered so far on this list is done, as it is not as important. Put simply, do this research when you can, as early as possible, to benefit the most from the bonus.
2 Basic Provisioning
Increases Maximum Fleet Capacity
- Research time: 90 seconds
- Bonuses: Max Supply 250
When playing Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, the size of a player’s fleet is limited by the amount of fleet supply they can support. At the start of the game, when the player is building small ships to explore and colonize planets, this isn’t so much of a problem.
However, once a player wants to start deploying capital class ships, it is very easy to hit the fleet supply limit quickly. Therefore, it makes sense to do the basic provisioning research before this cap is reached. It only takes 90 seconds, as long as the player can afford the research point cost. The fleet cap is a significant aspect of real-time fleet fleet strategy, so the more, the better.
1 Prova Jump Computer
Increases Scouring Speed
- Research time: 60 seconds
- Bonuses: Phase jump charge time -75%
At the very start of a game of Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, the player needs to explore as much of the galaxy map as possible, as quickly as possible. There is a period of time early in the game when a land grab is possible, colonizing uninhabited planets and asteroids. If exploration is left too long, other factions will find and colonize these assets first.
Scout ships are used to explore new sectors, and the Prova Jump Computer research has a direct impact on how quickly scouts will automatically explore the map. It is well worth getting this research done as soon as possible.
Sins of a Solar Empire 2
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget- Released
- August 15, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Stardock Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Strategy