First I want to say this is the best 4x game I have played, and I have played, Civs 4, 5, Sins all of them and modded, Pandora, galtic civs 1 and 2, sword of the stars 1 and 2. It has better depth than civs 4, better 4x than Sins, the most realistic solar systems I have seen in a 4x game.
That said, dont expect to just jump in and be the master of the game. If all you have played is Civs 5 then you will have a huge learning curve. Since in Civs 5 can be won really no matter what you do. I see in alot of these reviews for this, people get overwhelmed with all the stuff. I will say this, dont try to understand everything at once. Most of the people writing bad reviews, seem to be trying to controll 1400 star map, and do everything. While you can control everything manually, it makes it rather time consuming. The computer ai, does a great job of controlling the stuff you dont want to.
I skipped this game for the longest time due to the price, and 2d graphics, but I def regret that. This game has been one of the few i have bought, that i didnt feel i needed to have a mod running to enjoy the game. I have added some mods since I started, and they just make the game alot better.
I just want to address one thing though. I am not really sure why people are having such a hard time with the UI. Everything in the UI is customizable to what you want, I mean everything. Also everything is there easy to access, you can make your own ships, see all the aliens, see all colonies, ect. There isnt anything different really from the other 4x games. I found this UI alot easier to use than Civs 4.

I can’t believe I haven’t played this game earlier. DWU is an enormous 4x strategy game set in space. On first sight, it can look overwhelming… but thanks to the developers, you can set almost everything into “AI controlled”. This is great, because if you just want to see a living universe in front of your eyes, you basically set all to “automated” and just see everything fold in front of your eyes. Other people preffer to micromanage every aspect of their Empire… and the game allows them to do it too! Personally, I am in a middle ground, I like to micromanage, but I do not want to micromanage all the details of this game. One simple example, early in the game I manually send my explorers to the neighboring systems to see what is out there… but once I have a solid base around me, I just don’t care anymore and I set them to “Ai controlled”… the AI can manage very well the task of jumping from system to system all the time. There are dozens of features in the game that I like and I think that are very well implemented, but I think that one to mention is the simple “ship designer”: You can basically design whatever you want in there adding components to your ship (that you research on the tech tree obviously). You do not like the basic Frigate design? No problem, just edit it, add more torpedoes and lasers… and then retrofit it to your entire fleet!! Awesome!
I highly recommend this game to all the people that love strategy games in space, you will surely not regret it!

The Distant Worlds franchise proved to be an unusual exception for me. When it comes to games these days, I am rarely an "early adopter." Rather, I usually wait for other, more adventurous gamers to gamble their time and money before I stick my toe into the water. But with Distant Worlds it was different. I was intrigued from the first moment I saw the low-fi 2010 announcement pitch from a then unknown New Zealand development team by the name of CodeForce. There was just something that suggested ambitious innovation from the get-go. As I was reviewing games at the time, I requested a review code for the original DW game to check it out - really more out of curiosity than an actual eagerness to play the game. Long short: I quickly became hooked, as you can read here:

http://www.gamesquad.com/review/distant-worlds

Right off the bat it got a solid 8.0 from me!

Well, Code Force wasn't done yet! They proceeded to take the community feedback and wishlist and incorporate a lot of it into subsequent expansions. As you can see by my reviews for them, they did not disappoint:

http://www.gamesquad.com/review/reviewed-distant-worlds-return-shakturi

http://www.gamesquad.com/review/reviewed-distant-worlds-legends

With the release of Legends, the game had already earned a fantastic "9.0" from me! Impressive!

Of course, since then Code Force has released two more expansions, so the game has only improved (especially in light of the Universe compendium that FINALLY brought the game to Steam!). If I was to review this title today, it probably would top out around 9.5 or better!

Now, why do I say that? What is it that makes Distant Worlds so special? Simply, it is this:

Unlike most other space-based 4X strategy games, Distant Worlds isn't some sort of chess-like static experience where nothing happens unless a player makes it happen. Instead, DW is more like Sim City or Europa Universalis, or even Crusader Kings 2, where the player immediately gets the sense that he is but one small cog in a very large, very active galaxy where all sorts of things are happening that are outside of the player's control. Part of this is due to DW's real time environment (again, like EU or CK2) where there is constant activity on the map from the various other factions that share the galaxy with the player. But the biggest contributor to all this activity is the game's "Private Sector." Unlike every(?) other 4X game out there, DW deliberately limits the player's action to the "State" sector of his empire, which includes the military, diplomacy, tax rates, and so on. As with the real world, the private sector - the citizenry, merchants, miners, traders - are outside direct control of the player. While the player can influence their actions with policies, their day to day activities are completely autonomous. This is where DW so brilliantly succeeds! It is this private sector that brings so much life to the galaxy! In fact, this is why I often compare DW to Sim City because it can be so much fun to watch "the little people" go about their lives in a very dangerous galaxy as you do your best to protect and shepard them. For example, I recall one game some time ago where a passenger ship was attacked by a space monster (or was it pirates?) on route to a tourist destination. The ship was badly damaged and left adrift. As the supreme ruler, I had to send out a repair ship to save them, which was really cool. And, of course, I had to detail some military vessels to protect them while the repair ship did its work. THAT is the type of unique, micro focus that DW offers that so many space games just completely overlook.

I also find DW to be like Crusader Kings 2 because, with the arrival of the Legends expansion, DW now has its own cast of characters - diplomats, scientists, spies, and more - who are randomly generated, and acquire unique personality stats. As with CK2, this really adds a sense of personality to your empire (and yes, far in excess of the under cooked characters in Endless Space). And while these characters don't engage in the sort of interpersonal skulduggery that is common to CK2, they can be assassinated and killed by events. Just yesterday I had a talented energy researcher assassinated when his research base was destroyed by a sabotage-induced explosion!

Do you see what I mean by how DW is less like your typical chess-like 4X strategy game, and more like a science fiction Sim City / CK2/ EU4 hybrid? There is just nothing like this game on the market at the moment - something that fully justifies its somewhat pricey cost (trust me: it is worth every penny!).

In short, if you like turn-based, by-the-numbers, 4X strategy game where you have total god-like control over everything, this might not be for you. But if you are the type of gamer who loves real time grand strategy games that work with you to tell your own story in a sandbox environment - again, like a Crusader Kings 2 or a Europa Universalis 4 - this is DEFINITELY what you have been looking for! You don't so much play DW as you experience it. And, as with Crusader Kings, when the game is done, boy will you have some tales to tell!

Highly recommended!

Distant Worlds seems real cool, at first; but then, after a while, you realize that the AI is not playing by the same rules as you. Not by a long shot.

The AI will often field a gigantic space fleet, even if they still only have their homeworld because they're too incompetent to colonize another planet. You have to pay maintenance, which limits the size of your fleet; apparently, the AI does not.

Let's say you start as a pre-warp empire, and all your AI opponents do, too. After you discover warp drive and explore the galaxy a bit, you'll find that some of your opponents just sit on their homeworlds forever and don't expand, while others expand impossibly fast and will have 10 times or more the colonies you do. The first couple games, you think that they expand so much faster than you because you are new to the game and don't know what you're doing. The next couple games, when you understand how the game works better, and they still expand absurdly faster than you, you realize that it's not you, it's the AI cheating. A lot.

After a while of playing this, I began to get the impression that the AI empires are there just to harrass and annoy the player, rather than actually try to win. For example, you might have this space empire of around 10 colonies; then the AI empire next to you that consists of only it's homeworld decides to embargo your homeworld. They send their impossibly huge fleet to surround your homeworld. How could they think they could get away with this? You're 10 times bigger than they are. Well, their fleet is almost as big, or maybe even bigger, than yours, because they cheat horribly; but why don't they just declare war on you, then? This action doesn't help them in any way; you get the impression they have no motivation except to annoy those they don't like.

Once war starts, the AI will throw fleets at you. Over and over and over. And will invade the same planet again and again and again, which is nigh impossible to stop, even with a huge fleet guarding the planet. Really, the AI worlds are just spawn points for hordes of ships which they throw at you; even though they will build mining stations, I suspect they don't even have to worry about resources like you do. It might seem like a crazy comparison, but after a while, I began to feel like I was playing Gauntlet (the old coin op, as in "green elf needs food, badly") instead of a 4X strategy game.

Look, I've been playing 4X games for years. I realize that making a decent AI for these types of games is an immense challenge. However, the AI in this game is so bad, and cheats so blatantly, they're really just not very fun opponents. Considering that there's no multiplayer, it renders the entire game a pointless waste of time.

Distant Worlds Universe is the greatest 4x ever produced.
Pros:
-Cool looking Death Star like things
need I say more but I will
-ability to dictate how much micromanagement you wish to do
- As a race of hippy blue people you can exterminate every other race in the galaxy with your snazzy Death Stars
-There are quite a few mods available, with a very good community
Mix:
During late game wars things can get pretty hectic especially due to the RTS system, you can't just sit back and watch the havoc unfold
Cons:
The interface is a little clunky at times
Personal Rating: If unable to get this game, sell unimportant body parts or family members until able to get this game.
Traditional rating: 9.2/10

If you want the short story: A game which has a third of my gaming hours hooked, and pleases the sci-fi and strategy parts of me by a long way!!! 8/10

If you want the long story, then i suggest you take a good seat, have a good brew and listen close. :)

I have always had some undying thirst for games like these, though what has always put me off them is the fact i end up diving in the deep end and not realising HOW DEEP it is. But the developers i think have cleverly thought this out, with automanage features in the options menu (and which you can set in game too so your not having to restart from scratch). Meaning you can concentrate on the parts you, the player, want to focus on.

You can even do a kind of mini-game if you will like a 2D version of EVE online :P, and set everything on auto-manage while just manually ordering 1 ship to be built and personally customised by you via the ship design screen, after it is built, you can go with it on adventures across the galaxy and (if your a hardcore roleplaying kind of person) make up your own story. Aside from having your little RPG fun on a supposed 4x RTS game, you can set it to your liking as i mentioned earlier.

Do you want to just focus on the intel part of your empire and be an intergalactic James Bond? then go do that! Just set everything on auto manage except the intel parts of it and have fun! Or if you just want to be the man with the iron fist and go on a mad quest to conquer the galaxy you can do that too. If i had to pick one reason i love this game, it is the fact that it can be tailored around your play style. As the game motto is..."The Universe is Yours"

I also love the diplomatic relations on the game, where you can form alliance pacts to trade agreements, initiate sanctions and declare war, all the usual stuff. But what i like about it is that you can check another empires relations with everybody else and not just yours. It is really useful to keep in check over the ever shifting diplomatic web of relations to give you a rough picture of who to trust or not.

I have noticed with most game modes you start with, you will have 1 empire that is akin to your race. It bugges me a bit but after a while i can ignore this and simply create some sort of back story. Say they were some sort of event that made the two forget about eachother as time went by and only happened upon eachother in modern times. The real reason this happens though i think is so you can get a jump start and have some sort of support (and maybe even a friend among the empires) so you are not completely alone, though there is the matter of finding them first, and if they end up starting in the same system as you, expect an solar civil war to take place within that system.

What will also keep you hooked is that there are plenty of races to choose from, 22 in fact counting the guardians and shakturi in a fully customisable game. But what i also like about them is that each race has its own charicteristics, and that the victory conditions are set in a way that is more attuned to a said race. This allows for a more role play game and can introduce a fresh way of approach, so your not going in with exactly the same goal as everybody else and using the same strategy.

The victory conditions are divided into 4 sub conditions. Economy, Territory, Population and Race Specific (already mentioned). The economic, territorial and population is mostly the same but the race specific ones help create more of a diverse way of achieving those goals. But since the galaxy, as big as it is, is not unlimited, and that there will be collisions with other empires conditions, the victory benchmark is set to 80% of your total victory conditions, meaning you don't have to achieve 100% of what everything is set for you to win.

One thorny issue i have noticed is that the dialogue can be a bit user unfriendly at times and you may get spammed with messages from other empires. (especially true when you are part of an evershifting web of pacts and you end up with a seemingly intergalactic NATO vs Warsaw conflict. It is also the disadvantage of when you set the auto manage to advisors, where you get asked permission if your empire can build this and that or a new set of ships or fleet.

I have however come to terms with these issues and in the long run can be a fun game, but it does lose some of its magic after a while. As even with a standard 20 races to choose from (not counting the ancient guardians and shakturi of a fully customisable game), you eventually get to learn what they can behave like. The insectoids for example are your more angry bunch of races, some of which will just declare war on you and others just for the fun and giggles, while other races behave in a loose cannon and are just simply unpredictable, one point being all, sup, and you have no relations (but they have no beef on you so its mainly mutual), to suddenly, "we declare war on you, because we just feel like it, mad bro?" or at least thats how i see it, though usually they go less severe and just sanction trade with you instead, but it still dampens the mood with diplomatic relations. The Haakonish Race are seriously notorious for this, everytime i now see them im expecting them to piss 80% of the galaxy off with conflicts and sanctions.

So, in summary:

Pros:
Plenty of races to choose from so you are kept on your toes for a good while with new playstyles.
The diplomacy panel is actually quite easy to understand when you get used to it.
Completely customisable games.
Can set certain tasks to auto-manage so you are not overwhelmed with info, and also allows you to play your way.
Can even play as pirates. :P
Different storymodes to make a new game from.

***Cons:
Races can become predictable (even though government types can alter the factor).
Late game can be unfriendly userface wise.
Isn't exactly WOW factor with graphics, but you wouldn't mind too much given the scale of the game.
REALLY steep learning curve. but that is what the auto-manage is there for).
***Can be demanding with all the info it is gathering and processing, and in my case the Saves get overthrown and not recognised, but it doesn't happen everygame. To counter this I just use 2 saves so i can load on the previous one if the later one crashes.
***Can be demanding mid to late game when empires become large and there are many fleets going about their business.

***(probably due to the PC i use, it isnt exactly something for gaming but it can handle some, you will probably be better off though).

Overall, if your a strategy fan and a sci-fi lover, this should at least take a few months of your gaming calendar. Maybe after then it becomes a bit predictable with what may happen (such as an insectoid race declaring war on you as they are like that, nothing personal on you :D) but the fact it runs deep and there are a wide range of play styles to choose from, you shouldn't get bored any times soon and there are plenty of events that can interestingly occur that will get your curiosity spiking.

8/10

In my opinion this IS the game I have wanted for a very long time.

Watch the videos if you are having a difficult time getting started.

Try your best to stay away from automating activities. You will will enjoy the game more the more you do yourself.

If you have a ship that you have a specific task for learn how to use the Editor to rename that ship appropriately. For instance I use a few Construction Ships to do nothing but build Defense Bases so i rename them "Defense Builder One,... Two, etc."

This helps me keep track of what I have intended them to do.

It will be years before this one will gets old for me.

A deep, complex and rewarding space strategy game, where it is your job to manage your very own space empire.

Colonize planets, invent new techs, build your ships and wage war or use diplomacy. Basic stuff, really. But one thing makes it stick out to me: the civilian fleets. Every faction has their own civilians scooting through space. The galaxy feels alive because of this. You have no control over them, but you need them to generate revenue for your economy.

You can also extensively customize your starting options and generally define what kind of game you want to play. Make a peaceful galaxy for a more trade/diplomacy oriented game or ramp up the pirate activity and aggressiveness of the other factions for a more war oriented game. Other options like how advanced your faction is compared to the others, the scarcity of recources or the the size and composition of the map will make it easier or harder for you.

Graphics are outdated, the user interface is quite a mess and sound is basic. But still this is one of the best 4X space games out there.

Best Game Since Masters of Orion!!
Needs some polishing in the UI department.

This game is absolutely fabulous. It takes some mastering and learning from from various sources such as youtube and online guides.

This is a 4X which even has a story line to it, a complex but yet simple interface structure. The best way to define this game would be to take 'Star Trek Birth of the Federation' and to expand on that principle to an entirely different level all in real time.

The whole experience can be customised to your preference along with the scale. I just cant stress how good it is. It does have a few bugs but it doesn't really stop the game play. I would say the graphics could look better but its that for a reason when you are immersed in the gameplay.

If you like Civilization, Alpha Centari, Age of Empires, Birth of the Federation and all such games in that league then I am sure you will enjoy this game as a stratagy game that builds on such games to a new level.

I have personally found me playing an empire and learning from trial and error to get better and better. Do put in the time and effort and you will love it.

This is a MUST BUY!

Not a pretty game but definitely an insanely deep game. And not mind boggling deep. Its as deep as you want it to be.

EDIT: Its also one of the few games I have played of this type with a really good diplomacy algorythm. Its actually more rewarding to win a game completely peacefully for me. Dissuading war with numerous alliances, creating wealth with numerous trade agreements, etc. As long as you have a little cash, and are fairly established, peace is probably the most viable option.

Also, my typical games have last me 10-15 hours.

Best sci-fi\space 4X. The civilian economy system is designed very well and makes the universe much more alive. Very immersive.

I absolutly adore this game. It's very in depth and enjoyable. Pretty steep learning curve for new players, but if you keep at it it will get more enjoyable as you learn. 10/10.

- Nice features -

Very detailed in depth guide (Galactopedia)

Customization beyond belief

Very very very large maps

Nice automation feature that can be customized COMPLETELY

Interaction between other races/civs is nice

Game is extremly in depth overall, in nearly every aspect imaginable

- Cons -

Steep learning curve. Can put people off from playing too long ( kind of like dwarf fortress, hard to learn, but fun once you know)

Text is a bit iffy *Got patched, shouldn't be an issue anymore*

Kind of time consuming/addicting, if you are a busy person irl you might want something else to do that doesn't require such strategy and thought.

Probably one of the best, if not the best 4X game I've ever played. Complexity is on the level of Paradox games.

UI and graphics seem like its from the late 90s but you don't play these games from the graphics.

You can also automate as much of the game or as little of the game as you want. I personally learned how to play by turning all of it off and starting in the Shadow's Age and learning how to do everything myself.

Difficult to pick up, but impossible to put down. Distant Worlds: Universe is a Real Time Space Strategy game which I believe every game like it should strive to be like. It's complexity comes from the ability to design your own ships, manage your economy, and build an empire. Don't just look at your own empire, though, for you are but one of many. While doing the above, you must manage relations with potentially jealous neighbors, forge alliances and, at times, manage a military campaign.

The AI is very well ballenced and is forced to play by the same rules as you are, meaning you'll not find an overpowered, difficult to match AI in this game. You can also use the AI to run parts or the entireity of your empire, or just have it give you suggestions along the way, so if you don't understand something, you can let the AI handle it while you deal with other pressing issues.

The game runs well and rarely lags or slows. You'll get slowing when you have thousands of ships in your galaxy--so, late game--but it's not terrible.

To sum up the above, Distant Worlds: Universe is a very good game. It runs well, has very good game play, and is complex enough to satisfy someone bored by the simplicity of Sins. I recommend it.

This game is really challeging to play, the opponents are smart!
Plenty of mods available.

best X4 game out there 9/10

This game is a bad ♥♥♥ Grand Strategy. The action is nice, but a little seizure inducing at late game stages, just the game a good gamer likes it.

I was "Bro bro bro'd" by a broke friend into buying this game so he could play it on my steam share.

The first day I got it I decided to be a deuchebag and play it for a bit so that he couldn't, I only planned to be there long enough to learn the game... 12 hours later after starting to play, I hadn't even gotten off my homeworld yet but once or twice, restarted the game like 4 times and ignored all messages the entire time... The learning curve melted my brain, it was phenomenal.

Despite this the game is pure unfiltered gold distilled in a strange little package. It's like a jacked up mixture of Europa Universalis and Masters of Orion 3 - its Effin' glorious if you're a fan of either one, better if you're a fan of both.

It definitely gives you a real "I'm the leader of a galactic empire and I can't really do everything" feel. There are quite a few options that you can either control yourself or have the AI control - in fact, if you want to "Watch" the game you could put the AI in control of everything, from colonization to troop management to whether you go to war or not but honestly its more fun the more you control, however overwhelming it may get.

I've had the game for just under three weeks and already put 90 hours into it, on my laptop no less. My job wishes I put in that kind of time. I'm limited to galaxies with 400 stars but if you've got a graphics card and decent processor a standard 900-1400 stars'll work for you just fine.

Don't buy it for the graphics, buy it for the gameplay. Tons of customization options you can build the galaxy as you like and control many victory conditions. I highly recommend this game for anyone who is a fan of Grand Strategy games.

Plebs love to complain about the game's price. Please, don't be stupid. You're paying for a game and all the expansions in one package. Take Europa Universalis IV, if you want to buy the base game, the expansions, and all the DLC, it will set you back £75. Now you can buy the 'base' EUIV game, but you'll be getting an empty husk of game, it's a horrible way to release a game. With Distant Words, it packages up all the expansions into one game, hence the price.

And the game itself? This is THE definitive grand strategy in space. It rivals Paradox offerings and in my opinion improves on them. Its killer feature is the fidelity and detail of the simulation. There aren't many mechanics which are abstracted or 'game-fied', unlike say Europa Universalis, which is a broad representation of complex processes that run in the background, driving the game. Distant Worlds is set on a grand scale, but you're able to quantify everything, down to what is inside the cargo hold of one of the hundreds of private freighters flying around. The systems run like clockwork and yet they're not abstract-civilian traders transport and supply real goods, mined by real stations, designed by the player-made up from specific components-which themselves are constructed from raw materials, either mined or purchased. Once you master how to navigate the interface, there is not much to learn as it's all common sense, as the systems work logically, and not in an abstract game fashion.

The detail of the simulation allows for a lot of emergent gameplay. There is a lot of story telling and character here, and you have many options on how to control your empire. Also the level of said control can be adjusted-you're able to automate just about everything aspect of your empire. The game gives you the choice to either automate completely and merely watch your empire interact with the rest of the galaxy, or you can control every aspect, down to deciding what kind of engines a privately owned mining ship may have, and how many. Or what race is allowed to live on a particular colony.

This is not a game to win, this is a game to play, like Crusader Kings 2.

By far one of the best 4X titles I've ever played. For those of you who wanted to love Master of Orion 3 for its depth but felt it ultimately fell short of greatness, Distant Worlds will live up to that promize in spades.

Distant Worlds is simply staggeringly good. From the economy--managing supply and demand of dozens of resources, building and protecting mining stations to keep them working for your empire, supporting your empire's AI-run private sector so they can shuttle your bits and bobs around while you tax them--to the shipbuilding, combat, and even espionage, this game pretty much hits all the high points of the games that came before it, and brings a few more things to the table on top of that. Automation settings can be put anywhere from watching the game play itself to managing every single aspect of your empire down to the movement of every individual ship, various storylines can be enabled or disabled for a different experience, and each race has its own private win conditions that may or may not overlap with others in your galaxy.

And on top of all of that, there's an active community both here and on the official game forums, for modding, tactical and strategic advice, or AARs. A game's community may not seem like it's worth commenting on in a review, but trust me, you're going to want their help. If there's any one thing this game has as a downside, it is a steep learning curve. But a combination of watching how the AI works, listening to the AI advisors, and getting advice from fellow players will see you through in short order.

If you are at all a fan of sci fi 4X games and feel there aren't nearly enough of them out there, buy Distant Worlds right now. You won't regret it for a second.