1 – Distant Worlds 2
We have arrived at our destination! The faraway lands of Distant Worlds 2, a game that I can only consider to be one of the most vast and ambitious real‑time 4X space strategy games ever made. I always tell an anecdote about Distant Worlds 2 when I’m describing how complex the game is, by letting people know that you can only speak with other aliens after you research their own languages first. That’s the level of detail we are talking about. Also, the game is so complex, and has so many interconnected systems (economic, trade, population, exploration,. research, military, etc.) that it had a modular automation system that allowed players to decide how they want to play the game, a couple of years before Europa Universalis 5 did that (and was praised for that), in 2025. In Distant Worlds 2, players start with a single planet and command sprawling galactic empires across procedurally generated galaxies with up to thousands of star systems teeming with planets, moons, space monsters, and rival civilizations that make each new campaign feel fresh and unpredictable. In contrast to many traditional turn‑based 4X titles, Distant Worlds 2 blends the depth of grand strategy with real‑time pacing and gives players all the necessary tools to feel like a true space commander/governor/whatever form of government you prefer, instead of a paper-pushing bureaucrat, by giving them the tools to focus on major issues. In my review, I wrote that despite its immaculate detail, Distant Worlds 2 is all about the macro, and it proved to be successful.
Conclusion
Space strategy games continue to capture the hearts and minds of players in a major way, to the point that each article about space strategy games that I write, tends to do extremely well, a sign that players are looking for new experiences and want to discover more of what this genre of strategy has to offer. Fortunately, 4X games like Stellaris and Endless Space 2 to tactical roguelikes like FTL, all deliver in spades, and at a price point much lower than usual, during this Steam Winter Sale 2025. Whether you are a veteran commander or a newcomer to the genre, these ten games offer some of the most compelling space strategy experiences available today.
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