Top 20 Space Empire Games to Pick Up in 2025!

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  • Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025

Комментарии • 134

  • @realDubb
    @realDubb 6 дней назад +15

    starsector is criminally under reported

  • @CarterElkins
    @CarterElkins 6 дней назад +13

    For anyone curious, the Star Wars Empire at War footage features the Thrawn's Revenge mod, not the vanilla game. Even vanilla, it's possibly my favorite and most-played game, but the modding scene is definitely keeping it relevant 19 years later.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +2

      Yes I should of mentioned this but that's from an older video I did on modding 🚀

  • @uncletimo6059
    @uncletimo6059 4 дня назад +4

    Surprisingly, Sword of the Stars 1 takes the top spot. An incredible game.
    When enemy glasses / heats your planet and you hear "help us!" "help us!", it gets to you.... especially if you don't have a fleet in range to save them.
    This game has a cult following, and rightfully so. Design your ships. Randomized tech tree. Space dolphins OP. Each race has different FTL mechanic.
    Real time space battles with each turret on a ship firing independently.
    Just incredible game.

    • @nikolatasev4948
      @nikolatasev4948 4 дня назад +1

      Yes. It is a travesty what they did with the sequel. SotS 2 was the first game I bought on release, full price. A year later, when all the bugs and crashes were fixed, the design was still worse than the first...

    • @uncletimo6059
      @uncletimo6059 4 дня назад

      @@nikolatasev4948 SOTS1 caught lightning in a bottle. incredible game.
      the lore is awesome too

  • @CaneMcKeyton
    @CaneMcKeyton 6 дней назад +5

    Star Ruler is very much a hidden gem. Being able to make ships bigger than whole solar systems never gets old lol

  • @DalePoole
    @DalePoole 4 дня назад +3

    Heya Luke, another great show. I put X4:Foundations on my Steam wish list, based on your glowing recommendation. Well this week it went on Steam sale for 70% off! My games spending has been severely curtailed since I retired, but again based on your rec, I snapped this one up for a mere 22 bucks CDN. I spent yesterday afternoon going through the basic tutorials and when my schedule gives me a few hours more, I'll be back in the big seat to start making my mark.
    Initially, the game looks quite complex, so I expect there will be great value for my meagre dollars and I'm in no hurry so there will be plenty of time to absorb all the little details!
    Thanks for the great vids - I look forward to them every week!

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  4 дня назад +1

      Awesome comment! I'm glad that we have helped you spend money on games haha!

  • @jonnoble5624
    @jonnoble5624 6 дней назад +6

    Sword of the Stars is THE forgotten gem on this list. Hands down the best MULTIPLAYER 4x of all time.

  • @Toshiro_Mifune
    @Toshiro_Mifune 6 дней назад +15

    the only reason i am not playing distant worlds 2 until i die is because i haven't upgraded my ram to 32 from 16 yet, this game is absolutely crazy, you should do a deep-dive video on it.
    edit: Scratch that, this list is a banger, every item listed is a top-tier complex game.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +5

      I need to get back into it!

    • @IIIJG52
      @IIIJG52 6 дней назад +3

      Ive recently been trying to use boarding more, but i dont want to design all the ships myself. Is there a way to have the ships upgrade, but keep the boarding module in there ?

    • @Toshiro_Mifune
      @Toshiro_Mifune 6 дней назад +1

      @@LTGamingRUclips I have to know, what did stardock do? i know about the bad handling of star control but i really enjoy their games and thought they were one of the "good guy" publishers.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +2

      @@Toshiro_Mifune long story but basically allowed a moderator to abuse me then doubled down on it when I raised the issue. I was a huge fan of their games also!

    • @Toshiro_Mifune
      @Toshiro_Mifune 6 дней назад

      @@IIIJG52 yeah you can do that for every ship/station. Once you build a model, there should be options to auto upgrade them with the latest researches, and the same you can do with the premade ones. there is no real need to design anything. Do the extensive tutorials, it will pinpoint you all the stuff you have questions about it. it's a massive game and i am still figuring it out despite having like 100 hours in it. You should be able to automate everything to the point you are just observing your faction, or micro manage it down to the smallest "space-bus" transporting tourists from one station to another.

  • @Thibaut_Guerquin
    @Thibaut_Guerquin 5 дней назад +2

    I have played more than a thousand hours of Endless Space 2, and even if it has, as every games, its shortcomings, this is a game I keep coming back to when I want a vast galactic adventure exploring, discovering and colonizing planets, fighting for and using ressources, expanding and reaching victory conditions that are not all necessarly militaristic in nature.
    The music, the lore and the visual are stunning, as always with Amplitude Studios, who happens to have just teased Endless Legend 2, the sequel to one of the best fantasy sci-fi 4X ever, I strongly recommend their games !

  • @esh_414
    @esh_414 5 дней назад +2

    I really enjoyed Endless Space 2 as a turn based strategy game. Depending on your progress through the tech tree you can go many different routs. Ultimately, it is VERY addicting.
    Stellaris is what I am hooked on at the moment. The amount of DLC's and Mods available for the game are pretty crazy. I also love that you can create your own empire from scratch, all with different origins and traits. You can make a machine AI race to exterminate the galaxy, or a Psionic race allied with a Fallen Empire (That eventually goes away anyway) to either rule though subterfuge, diplomacy, or force. It's a great game.
    Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is next on my list to try. I can't give a review on it as I have not played it yet, but I like what I have seen already.

  • @FRODOGOOFBALL
    @FRODOGOOFBALL 5 дней назад +2

    I met the artist who created Stars in Shadow online years ago on DeviantArt. I thought they were just doing a webcomic at the time. So cool to learn of the success of this project!

  • @lphoenix1091
    @lphoenix1091 6 дней назад +11

    This is the list Ive been waiting for. X4: Foundations is an epic mix of Space Sim and Empire game. Stellaris is well the gold Standard and I can understand your obsession with Endless Space 2!

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      So many great games here! It was a really enjoyable lost to make so enjoy it :)

    • @maofria1452
      @maofria1452 6 дней назад +2

      Master of Orion 2016 deserve a place between the best space 4x too imo

  • @HenryAhoi
    @HenryAhoi 4 дня назад +2

    Anyone here looking for a freelancer alternative too?

  • @tyty8484
    @tyty8484 4 дня назад +2

    9:09 THE MODS!!!! off the charts! And so well integrated.

  • @portumnadaz
    @portumnadaz 6 дней назад +6

    Endless Space 2 is great and theres tons of mods in the steam workshop to keep it fresh

  • @jbennett1391
    @jbennett1391 4 дня назад +3

    Space Engineers 2 I believe is out now, at least as an early access. But the firsd Space Engineers game is pretty great. Only your imagination really is the limit for all the creations you can make. And you get to explore space and planets.

    • @mystikmind2005
      @mystikmind2005 3 дня назад

      I loved getting into Space Engineers, but after just 200 hours i got bored because there is no story. I moved on to Empyrion and got 1500 hours out of it because there was a story.
      No story = 200 hours
      Story = 1500 hours
      Notice the difference?

  • @RoadrunnerGaming-sc5xg
    @RoadrunnerGaming-sc5xg 6 дней назад +2

    The lore of Homeworld 1-2 is like that of Wing Commander

  • @MontuPlays
    @MontuPlays 5 дней назад +2

    Enjoyed your list! You alluded to something quite unpleasant happening with the Sins 2 publisher, can I ask what happened?

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +1

      An unpleasant interaction with a 'moderator' which they doubled down on. Door is always open 🚀

  • @brianaldridge5258
    @brianaldridge5258 6 дней назад +8

    A old game that I keep going back to is space empire’s V

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад

      I discussed putting it on here!

    • @BlightJJ
      @BlightJJ 6 дней назад +1

      I second this, but prefer Space Empires 3 and 4

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +2

      @ Tom suggested 4. But we decided they might go better on a retro list!

    • @BlightJJ
      @BlightJJ 6 дней назад +2

      @@LTGamingRUclips I agree with that. A retro list would be awesome!

    • @Thibaut_Guerquin
      @Thibaut_Guerquin 5 дней назад +1

      The Space Empire games are great, SE IV and V are mostly similar with the main difference being that the later is 3D

  • @shanephillips4011
    @shanephillips4011 4 дня назад +2

    Great list! I've had time off work and just put 18 hours in on Stellaris in two days, going to sleep just to wake up and continue. Robotic hivemind is OP

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  4 дня назад

      Appreciate that! I was off for a week and got into Endless Space 2 and Stellaris in a big way also 🚀

  • @Rotarrin
    @Rotarrin 6 дней назад +3

    Great list! DW2, ISG, SW: EaW, and (most of all) Stellaris are all long-time favorites.
    I was especially happy to see Stars in Shadow and Nexus 5x mentioned early on. Both are definitely underrated gems, and deserve more attention (and sales).
    I was also pleasantly surprised to see the Master of Orion 2016 game on the list. I admittedly don't think it's good as a remake, but I do think it's a decent 4x game. It's gotten a lot more hate than it's deserved IMHO.
    Galactic Ruler: Enlightenment, Stellar Monarch 2, EotFS, and Star Dynasties are all on my "List of Shame" -- I own them, but have barely played them, despite very much wanting/intending to do so! (Dang it.)

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +2

      What a great comment! I also have some games I haven't put enough time into and one would be Distant Worlds 2! But a lot of games on this list are on my regular rotation :)

  • @Magnumaniac
    @Magnumaniac 6 дней назад +4

    Nice list. I never really got on with Star Ruler, but should probably give the 2nd one a go. Most of the others are already in my library :)
    Agree on Star Dynasties - well worth a look. Also would suggest Imperium Galactica 2 (old game but enhanced with high res and works well on Win 11).

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      Stay Dynasties is a lot of fun and I always go back to it. Imperium Galactica was on my backup list Just it age mean it didn't make the cut :)

    • @TeslaDeCastaka
      @TeslaDeCastaka 6 дней назад +2

      And "Haegemonia", with the "Solon Heritage" expansion, the sequel in the genre from Digital Reality. It works under win10, and with a little mod you can have procedural system generation, that was the most relevant weak point of the game.

  • @portumnadaz
    @portumnadaz 6 дней назад +3

    Stars in Shadow looks great it's like a remaster of Master of Orion 2 which I played to death back in the day. Gonna get it for myself now

  • @IIIJG52
    @IIIJG52 6 дней назад +2

    Oh boy, Distant Worlds 2, Terra Invicta and Sword of the Stars are awesome. Also Sins of a Solar Empire 2.
    Ive only recently got into some Ai War 2 with a couple friends, its really cool.
    God I have so many of these games :D .

  • @trazyntheinfinite9895
    @trazyntheinfinite9895 6 дней назад +2

    Star ruler 2 is such a shame. It never got the polish it needed

  • @abranubes9571
    @abranubes9571 6 дней назад +2

    Nice list. Could have shown more combat footage for Starsector, because this is what usually grabs people and is the most impressive part visually and atmosphere-wise.
    X4 and Starsector are my go-to, also Startraders...
    And as much as I love X4 (+mods), the universe is 10 times more "alive" in Starsector + nexerelin for example, with factions engaging in espionnage, trade wars and such against each other. X4 is very limited in that regard, but hopefully the Diplomacy update coming this year might flesh it a bit more.
    Endless Space 2 and Stellaris are also such gems.

  • @j.d.4697
    @j.d.4697 5 дней назад +2

    Endless Space 2 has such amazing artwork and soundtracks, hauntingly brilliant ones, but the gameplay just feels shallow.

  • @NGC4261
    @NGC4261 6 дней назад +2

    Thank you very much for your recommendation, it's so good to have this recomrndation in the space genere. Keep your good work

  • @devindbass6711
    @devindbass6711 6 дней назад +2

    Great list! I have 14 of the 20 you have suggested. Based on your recommendation, I am going to give Star Dynasties a try. Thanks, keep up the good work

  • @sebastianc9716
    @sebastianc9716 4 дня назад +2

    You maybe don't want to include MMOs but in a list that contains X4 Foundation there should also be EVE Online, basically X4 as an MMO

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  4 дня назад

      @@sebastianc9716 we always open. Don't tend to stay to strict. I actually thought about Eve 😀🚀

  • @danielunnamed9438
    @danielunnamed9438 5 дней назад +2

    Would like you to add some "have to mention" list of old but good games like ORB: of world resource bas etc

  • @mysticmerlin1297
    @mysticmerlin1297 6 дней назад +2

    An excellent video. Many gems I haven't heard of here.

  • @bobtipton9455
    @bobtipton9455 5 дней назад +2

    Hopefully someone at Stardock will try to mend fences - I've always liked their origin story: made games and utilities for OS/2, then when the OS got yanked out from under them, pivoted to Windows. Bizarrely, I think most of their business in in utility programs for Windows. Don't know of any other game developer that has that type of business.

    • @mistervertigogaming
      @mistervertigogaming День назад

      I came to the comments to say something similar. I've had brief interactions with them over the years on their forums and discord as I've been a fan of their games for a LONG time. I'm no one of importance or influence though, just a fan. I'm curious, but what happened that turned you off to them?

  • @trax1794
    @trax1794 6 дней назад +2

    Amazing work brother! I will be digging into this one myself. Strategy games are my thing this year!

  • @mystikmind2005
    @mystikmind2005 3 дня назад +1

    Quite a few of those games on the list look like they belong in the 1990's, or older, NOT 2025??
    I noticed X4 get mentioned.... i played x2, loved it, i played x3 reunion, it was a bit harder but way better, i played Terran conflict, it was my limit of complexity... I mean, setting up trade and manufacturing networks just hurt my brain in TC when it was so easy in x2 and x3, so i tapped out of the series after that.
    I loved the Stardock Galactic civilization games from 1 to 3, but then they started seriously messing with 3 and i hated the direction they were going in, so i tapped out of that series as well and this is why i have not played Sins and don't plan too in the future.

  • @chrisdude2675
    @chrisdude2675 5 дней назад +2

    I stil haven't played one as fun as Galactic CIv 2

  • @Belligerent_Herald
    @Belligerent_Herald 6 дней назад +3

    Point of order, much of that footage used for EAW was from the Mod community. The base game is a loving touch of nostalgia, but pretty basic. The Mod community are the ones keeping it modernized and worth playing. All given away for free, done for the love of the game.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      Its from my own mod video I made awhile back ;) the mod scene is awesome!

  • @kraosdadafusfus8034
    @kraosdadafusfus8034 6 дней назад +3

    Arcen just released their latest game, Heart of the Machine. It's a sci fi 4X game.

  • @SpaceWraith131
    @SpaceWraith131 6 дней назад +2

    If I didn't know better, it'd say that opening cinematic was from mass effect 3

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +2

      Stellaris then X4 :)

    • @SpaceWraith131
      @SpaceWraith131 6 дней назад +2

      @LTGamingRUclips oh I see that, very cinematic use of the opening volley

  • @I_am_Locutus_of_Borg
    @I_am_Locutus_of_Borg 5 дней назад +2

    How is it even possible to disagree with that list 😁
    Edit: interesting bit about Stardock, I guess they treated you with disdain?

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +1

      It was odd! But like I said the door is always open. We will keep growing ;)

  • @IIIJG52
    @IIIJG52 6 дней назад +2

    Ive recently found a fun new Autobattle type space game called Annihilate the Spance that is in early access. Have you heard of that one? Its really cool.

  • @GeordiLaForgery
    @GeordiLaForgery 6 дней назад +2

    Excellent picks hope to try some cheers.

  • @MrPigfarmer23
    @MrPigfarmer23 6 дней назад +2

    Sunk way too many hours into stellaris

  • @shawngillogly6873
    @shawngillogly6873 2 дня назад +1

    Interesting list. Sad to hear about your issues with Stardock. I've been looking for a Stellaris alternative that is not simply lite-version. Endless Space 2 fit that bill, or another suggestion?

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  2 дня назад +1

      If you can handle the shift from the real time to the turn based Endless Space 2 is awesome!

    • @shawngillogly6873
      @shawngillogly6873 2 дня назад

      ​@@LTGamingRUclips I have no loyalty to either mode, and consider that brouhaha laughable. If it's well designed, it's fun.

  • @Canyonlight1
    @Canyonlight1 6 дней назад +1

    Thanks for another great video! A nice little cross section of done is what is available.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад

      Yeah we like to make those kind of resources here for the year :) Plus I play many of these on a regular basis!

  • @Malbeefance
    @Malbeefance 6 дней назад +2

    I have Interstellar Space. It is a great game! I love the graphics and the tactical system. My only criticism is the small map but this is because I think the game was designed for single day play.
    Someone, please, give me a MOO with a Stellaris sized map!
    I'd love to see a modern Lightspeed/Hyperspeed, originally from Microprose. It was 4X before we had the Space 4X genre.
    Did Galactic Civilizations IV get considered for this list?

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      Hey! Yes it was a fun list to make! I mention Gal Civ IV and also the dispute I had with the Publisher so dont play their games anymore. But lots of awesome games in the genre :)

  • @roguerifter9724
    @roguerifter9724 6 дней назад +1

    Am I the only one who finds the idea of a top 20 Space Empire game list without any games from the actual Space Empires franchise odd? Also there are Endless Space novels. Interesting.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +2

      We considered them but think they fit better on a retro style list. Yeah I've a copy ordered 🚀

  • @xanderxk
    @xanderxk 3 дня назад +1

    so many good games in this list

  • @mikael2670
    @mikael2670 6 дней назад +2

    Homeworld remasters are great, just wish the last 3'rd installment were worthy of its name - It was imo a hot pile of garbage with the average strategic/tactical depth of a mobile game.
    Good list - Keep it up :)

  • @judemoore1248
    @judemoore1248 6 дней назад +2

    What is up with Stardock? Just curious. You don't have to share if you don't care to. Thanks for your preview.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      Was an odd incident a long time ago when we first started the channel. Never got a remedy to it unfortunately! But they were not very pleasant to me at the time. I really loved their games so it was a hard stance to take.

  • @RoadrunnerGaming-sc5xg
    @RoadrunnerGaming-sc5xg 6 дней назад +2

    Too bad you had a bad experience with Stardock.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад

      Hey I'm always open about it and the door is always open 🚀

  • @verios44
    @verios44 6 дней назад +3

    Shame about your issues with Stardock, as the galactic civ franchise has been sleeper hits imo.

  • @ivayloivanov7231
    @ivayloivanov7231 4 дня назад +1

    Stars in Shadow sux hard - AI cheats!

  • @Demiurge13
    @Demiurge13 6 дней назад +1

    um for a list of space games of 2025, your list is all games from way before 2025..

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад

      Well this the point of the list. Games that still stand up in 2025 🚀

  • @Zihenroy
    @Zihenroy 2 дня назад

    Starsector

  • @longliveteambrnz7936
    @longliveteambrnz7936 5 дней назад +1

    Hi good day are their any free to play ?

  • @ImRuined666
    @ImRuined666 5 дней назад +1

    How did you miss Endless Space 2?

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +2

      Endless Space 2 is on it....I play it all the time atm 🤣🚀

    • @ImRuined666
      @ImRuined666 5 дней назад +1

      @@LTGamingRUclips what? No... That was not there before... I'm calling Mandella Effect... =p

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад

      @ImRuined666 haha 🤣😇

  • @saladinbob
    @saladinbob 4 дня назад +2

    Just be aware that Paradox (Stellaris) are a gang of thieves and not a Publisher. CS2 has complete, ready to ship DLC that's been paid for by many of us and Paradox has our money but we don't have our product , despite releasing additional paid-for content. It's up to you but if you value your money I would avoid Paradox, they're scum.

  • @ArmageddonEvil
    @ArmageddonEvil 3 дня назад

    Did Stardock Games like Copyright Strike your channel all those years ago?
    I have a similar grudge with EA for killing Command & Conquer General II/etc.

  • @Zaela_Zhezzaia
    @Zaela_Zhezzaia День назад

    Surprise you had bad dealing with StarDock. They always treated me well. Giving me a free game after their last game bombed. Even porting my games over to Steam after their personal client died. Not sure what happened between you two.

  • @jcataclisma
    @jcataclisma 3 дня назад +1

    🤩🤩🤩😱😱💫💥💥💫💥

  • @bmardiney
    @bmardiney 6 дней назад +1

    What did Stardock do to you? Their CEO is a great guy.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад +1

      Wasn't my experience unfortunately. Its a long story but it wasn't fun at the time and was left unimpressed with how that company is run. The CEO I'm aware of but was not involved.

    • @bmardiney
      @bmardiney 6 дней назад

      @ what’s the general gist? Refused a refund or something?

    • @JDM12983
      @JDM12983 6 дней назад

      @@bmardiney probably didn't get a sponsorship or something

    • @IIIJG52
      @IIIJG52 6 дней назад +1

      From my outside perspective they generally seem to be a publisher for gamers that cares. Kinda like Hooded Horse. But it might be different with content creators.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  6 дней назад

      No of course not 🤣 Allowed a moderator to send me abusive messages then backed him up. Acted extremely petty toward me for no real reason unfortunately.

  • @TNM001
    @TNM001 6 дней назад +1

    some of the most buggy and unfinished games you could find...congrats ;)
    you need a pretty thick skin to enjoy some of these "gems"...

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +1

      I thibk that's more the nature of the genre. Complicated games have problems.

    • @TNM001
      @TNM001 5 дней назад +1

      @@LTGamingRUclips thats a low bar, isn't it?
      well...lets hope it gets better again.

    • @LTGamingYoutube
      @LTGamingYoutube  5 дней назад +1

      @ Some of these games are Top Tier!

    • @TNM001
      @TNM001 5 дней назад +1

      @@LTGamingRUclips checked the list again...3, maybe, if i ignore balance issues. ;)
      i just play too much of this stuff to not notice...at least many have mods to compensate.

  • @jonnoble5624
    @jonnoble5624 6 дней назад +2

    Sword of the Stars is THE forgotten gem on this list. Hands down the best MULTIPLAYER 4x of all time.