Stellaris is a grand science-fiction strategy and simulator game where you guide a nascent interstellar empire across a procedurally generated galaxy. Released in 2016, the core loop involves exploring unknown systems, expanding your territory, managing resources, and engaging in diplomacy or warfare with diverse alien civilizations. Its distinctive feature is the deep customization of your starting species and ethics, which fundamentally shapes your interactions and emergent narrative as you strive for galactic dominance.
The game immerses players in a dynamic, ever-changing cosmos filled with anomalies, ancient ruins, and emergent civilizations. The atmosphere balances the awe of deep space exploration with the complex political and military realities of empire management. Every playthrough promises a unique narrative shaped by player choices and random galactic events.
As a Real-Time Strategy and Simulator hybrid, success hinges on balancing several critical systems:
A key differentiator is the depth of customization available for the player's starting civilization. Players define their species' ethics, government type, and physical traits, which fundamentally alter how they interact with the galaxy—whether as benevolent xenophiles, ruthless conquerors, or isolationist spiritualists. Furthermore, the game features emergent storytelling driven by unexpected events and unique alien encounters that ensure no two galactic journeys are identical.
This main game is available across multiple platforms, including PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. The core experience is significantly expanded through substantial additional content. The game currently features 10 major expansions and 5 smaller Downloadable Content (DLC) packs, offering deeper mechanics, new crisis scenarios, and further customization options for long-term play.
Interaction with alien races is multifaceted. Initial contact can lead to trade, research agreements, or immediate conflict. Over time, players can integrate other species into their empire through various means, or they may face existential threats from advanced, galaxy-spanning crises that require unprecedented cooperation or domination to overcome.
The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 7 years and over only. It contains: Violence that is not shown but is implied

Shape Minds, Rule the Stars. In a galaxy defined by borders, belief knows no limits. In Stellaris: Willpower, your Ethics evolve into powerful ideologies that can reshape entire civilizations.

In Nomads, you thrive inside colossal Arkships that carry your people, your industry, and your ambition across the stars. Move freely through the galaxy, take on Contracts from settled empires, and leave your mark by building Waystations. Nomads do not own the map. They blaze a path across it.

This exclusive portrait comes with Stellaris: Season 10, allowing your empire to take the form of the elusive Vipra, beings of shifting atmosphere and smoke. Available immediately upon purchasing Stellaris: Season 10, it features 5 different phenotypes and ethereal custom animations.

Thrive where others burn. The Stellaris: Infernals Species Pack invites you to forge a blazing empire, built to endure the galaxy’s most extreme heat.

Shadows of the Shroud is an expansion for Stellaris, released as a part of the Season 09 Expansion Pass in 2025. The psionic plane holds untold power—but at what cost? Shadows of the Shroud is a complete overhaul of the Psionic Ascension path, introducing new moral dilemmas, patron allegiances, and the ever-present temptation of ultimate destruction.

BioGenesis is an expansion for Stellaris, released as a part of the Season 09 Expansion Pass in 2025. Step into the role of a master geneticist, sculpting the galaxy to your design with living ships, engineered ecosystems, and enhanced species. Forge new paths with unparalleled bioengineering tools to create a civilization that thrives on adaptability and evolution – or exploit these tools to dominate the stars.

Dream of the stars with this exclusive portrait, available immediately upon purchasing Stellaris: Season 09. Featuring three phenotypes and unique animations, the Stargazer Species Portrait is perfect for players who seek to embody the spirit of cosmic curiosity.

The Galaxy is vast and full of wonders, and it is up to you to store records of all the unique lifeforms and marvels you will meet. Build a new megastructure, and collect examples of specimens you will meet in your space-faring adventures!

A new phenomenon has been observed around the Galaxy - storms are sweeping through system. Prepare your Empire and brace to face this new upcoming threat, and leverage possibilities that open when your opponents are weakened by it.

It is an age of technological glory, rapid social change, and unbridled ambition… But in the depths of space, a danger unlike any before encountered is about to emerge, a looming threat that will throw the very meaning of life into question.Welcome to The Machine Age!

An exclusive portrait for you species, to play as the most enigmatic species in the galaxy.

Includes a new core system and technologies. New planes to explore. New branching narratives.

Add Galactic Paragons to your empires and experience a new level of character and story as great leaders follow your lead to the stars. With exclusive additions to the all-new Council mechanic, leaders who you can shape to amplify the vision for your empire, new civics and more.

You are not alone! The galaxy is vast and full of wonders, but it’s also full of alien empires you’re going to encounter, whether you’re ready or not. First Contact offers a set of new origins and mechanics that give players the chance to tell stories about their civilizations’ early encounters with visitors from the stars — ones that may not have come in peace!

Rise from the primordial ooze all the way to the stars! The Toxoids Species Pack gives players the chance to inhabit toxic worlds, gamble the future of their planets for immediate gains, and make the tough sacrifices necessary to survive a hostile galaxy.

Realize your Grand Design Overlord, a new full expansion for Stellaris, grants access to new features designed to unlock the next level of your empire. New mechanics to specialize your vassals’ roles within your empire and new magnificent megastructures to project your power further, faster.

Embrace the life of a seafaring civilization as you sail the open expanses of the galaxy with Stellaris' most immersive pack yet: the Aquatics Species Pack! Let a wave of new customizable options for your empire crash into Stellaris, with a treasure trove of new species portraits, ship set, origins and more.

Nemesis is an expansion to Stellaris in which you will be able to determine the fate of a destabilizing galaxy. Adding espionage tools, a path to power as the Galactic Custodian - or the Menace option to become the crisis - Nemesis gives you the most powerful tools ever available in Stellaris.

The Necroids Species Pack features a brand new selection of portraits, civics, ship sets and other cosmetics for players who don’t fear the afterlife, and a unique Necrophage origin with new civics.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. With the Stellaris: Federations expansion, players can extend their diplomatic dominion over the galaxy like never before. Use every trick in the book to gain an edge on friend and foe alike, with a host of new options to influence, manipulate, and dominate without firing a shot.
Showing 20 of 34 related games