Paradox Development Studio

Stellaris

Stellaris is a real-time 4X grand strategy game set in a procedurally generated galaxy. Players control an interstellar civilization, exploring star systems connected by hyperlane networks, colonizing habitable worlds, and managing their empire's economy across resources like energy, minerals, and alloys. The game emphasizes empire customization through species traits, ethics, government types, and civics that shape both aesthetics and mechanics. Gameplay progresses through diplomacy, trade, and warfare with other civilizations, while mid-game and late-game galactic crises introduce escalating threats such as extragalactic invasions or hostile artificial intelligence awakenings. Players can pursue ascension paths including genetic engineering, cybernetic augmentation, or psionic abilities. Originally released for PC, the game later received a console edition and has been supported with numerous expansions adding megastructures, new empire types, espionage mechanics, and additional crisis scenarios.

• Real-time strategy
• Simulation
• Strategy
• 2016

Released

9 May 2016

Developer

Paradox Development Studio

Publisher

Paradox Interactive

Engine

Clausewitz Engine

Perspective

Bird view / Isometric

Age rating

PEGI 7 · ESRB E10+

Metacritic

78/100

Steam recommendations

142,451

Platforms

Xbox Series X|S · PlayStation 4 · Linux · PC (Microsoft Windows) · PlayStation 5 · Mac · Xbox One

Genres

Real Time Strategy (RTS) · Simulator · Strategy

Also known as

Stellaris: Console Edition

Estimated owners

2,000,000–5,000,000 (est.)