Stellaris
Paradox Interactive's 4X GRAND STRATEGY game (released 2016) — build interstellar EMPIRE from single planet to galaxy-spanning civilization. Deep customisation: species biology, ethos, government, pop management, diplomacy, warfare, megastructures. Extensive DLC ecosystem (20+ expansions since 2016). 10M+ owners on Steam; one of the top-selling grand strategy games; huge modding community.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–32
Duration
~1200 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇸🇪 Sweden
Estimated origin
Released May 9, 2016 by Paradox Interactive; developed by Paradox Development Studio. Continuous development with 20+ DLCs including Utopia (2017), Apocalypse (2018), Federations (2020), Nemesis (2021), Overlord (2022), First Contact (2023), Astral Planes (2024).
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Grow interstellar empire from single homeworld to galaxy-dominating civilization via research, diplomacy, war, ascension.
Rules
Basic rules
GRAND STRATEGY 4X: eXplore galaxy, eXpand territory, eXploit resources, eXterminate/coexist with rivals
Signature 4X gameplay loop.
SPECIES DESIGNER: create custom race (biology, ethics, government, homeworld type, appearance)
Signature deep customisation.
POP-BASED ECONOMY — planets have jobs; pops fill jobs producing resources; deep economic simulation
Signature pop-job system.
DIPLOMACY + WAR: federations, galactic community senate, wargoals + war-in-heaven crises
Signature deep diplomacy.
MEGASTRUCTURES: Dyson spheres, ring worlds, matter decompressors, Science nexus, gateway networks
Signature megastructure endgame.
ASCENSION PATHS: Psionic, Synthetic, Biological/Genetic — deep late-game civilization transformations
Signature ascension.
ENDGAME CRISES: Extradimensional invaders, Prethoryn scourge, Contingency (AI) — massive galactic threats
Signature endgame crises.
Scoring
Victory = highest score, conquest, federation, or crisis endgame.
Win condition · Domination, federation, or beat endgame crisis.
Equipment
PC (Windows/Mac/Linux) OR PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series
Platforms.
Keyboard + mouse (PC); controller (console with modified UI)
Standard controls.
Terminology
- Pop
- Population unit that fills jobs on planets.
- Ethics
- 3 core ethical axes defining empire character (xenophile/xenophobe, militarist/pacifist, etc.).
- Ascension perk
- Long-term civilization-defining bonus chosen at milestones.
- Megastructure
- Late-game colossal construction like Dyson sphere or ringworld.
- Crisis
- Endgame galactic threat (Contingency, Scourge, Extradimensional).
- Federation
- Multi-empire alliance with shared laws + president.
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Paradox Interactive (publisher/developer)
Founded 1999 · Stockholm, Sweden
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Stellaris— Wikipedia
- Paradox — Stellaris— Paradox
- Steam — Stellaris— Steam