Space Empire games

[SuperFrankieLampard]

So as of yesterday I decided that I need a good space colonization game to play but being on a tight budget doesn't really afford me the option of buying a game and then not liking it. I've got my eye on Stardrive and Endless Space and I was wondering if anyone on here had played it and could give me some advice. Thanks.

 

[Liberaliter]

I've played both StarDrive and Endless Space. Whilst I can recommend both, they are each different in their own way. StarDrive is real time, but has a pause function akin to the paradox strategy games, it also offers more in the way of combat and ship design. Whereas Endless Space is much more traditional, turn based and reminds me more of Galactic Civilizations II. However, Endless Space's world and factions are a bit boring and the game feels a bit sterile. StarDrive does better with its races in my opinion. StarDrive is also newer and has more bugs, but it is refreshingly different.

So in short: I can recommend both Endless Space and StarDrive, best thing to do would be to watch some gameplay of each and decide which appeals to you more.

 

[BoogieManFL]

StarDrive is pretty fun, and it'll still be improved upon for some time yet. I've had fun with it.

Endless Space's very basic combat pushed me from away from it so I couldn't recommend it to anyone who likes to directly control combat.

And there there is Distant Worlds. It's probably the largest scope of these types of games and still maintains performance, unlike Space Empires V which gets shamefully and brokenly slow at processing turns in larger, long games. I don't believe the technology exists to make that game feasible. It doesn't seem to be able to utilize multiple cores, so you'd probably need an 8Ghz+ single core system for it to have a chance. But back to Distant Worlds The graphics are a bit simpler but they work just fine for the game. I like how the game has a civilian part of your empire that you don't control which is your passenger transports, freighters, and mining vessels. You control your colony and fleet, things that are government/military. It has significant empire automation aids as well to help when you have a massive empire.

I like how there are multiple automation options, not just automate yes/no. It has other options like suggestions where it will bring up a prompt asking your decision about various things from saying 2nd Fleet is ready and able to attack enemy colony at blah blah, should we send them? Or such and such planet in this system would make a good colony, dispatch a colony ship?

So yeah I'd suggest StarDrive and Distant Worlds.

 

[Tallim]

Oh I thought you were actually going to ask about Space Empires FYI Space Empires 4 is the best one and worth a look for your 4X needs. Although if you are playing alone you really can't beat Galactic Civilizations 2

 

[Tanis]

StarDrive is actually kind of nice, and probably an overall better game than Endless Space.

The only thing really 'missing' from it are 'minor races', like the ones that exist in GalCiv2.

I also kind of wish there was more to research.
Getting maxed research is fairly easy, and then you're left with making your own ships.

It'd also be nice if they let you use credits to buy production, but maybe that'll be in some kind of expansion pack or update.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Sid Meier's Alpha Centuri is the best civ game I've ever played.

Do you want to buy a <a href=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sid-Meiers-Alpha-Centauri-Alien-crossfire-expansion-/170325497925>Physical copy from ebay? It's recently been released and $8.48 USD to send anywhere in the world and it includes the Alien Crossfire expansion pack. It's $4.49 USD if you only want to send it in the USA . Or would you like the <a href=http://www.gog.com/gamecard/sid_meiers_alpha_centauri>Digital download without the expansion pack from GoG for $5.99 USD?

Seriously go buy it.