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Everything you need to know about 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.
11 expansions and 8 DLC for Stellaris.
Stellaris: Horizon Signal
Dec 5, 2016
A signal in distant space is calling out to your empire. What does this entity want, and how does it know who you are? Horizon Signal is a new and rich storyline written by Alexis Kennedy, a British writer best known for his work at Failbetter Games, which he co-founded. His writing for Sunless Sea and Fallen London has been widely acclaimed, and now he is scribing new stories for Stellaris. This story update is a free DLC for Stellaris and highlights one of the great strengths of the game – its ability to tell stories that entertain and entrance without distracting you from the core strategic gameplay. The DLC consists of a somewhat rare event chain that can potentially be triggered at any time in your game. Even if you are playing a save that was started before installing Horizon Signal, the event chain can still occur in your game.
Stellaris: Utopia
Apr 6, 2017
The stars have called you for millennia and now you walk among them. A universe of possibilities is open to your species as it takes its first fitful steps into the great unknown. Here you can turn your back on the divisive politics of the home planet. Here you can build something new. Here you can unify your people and build that perfect society. Only in space can you build Utopia. Utopia is the first major expansion for Stellaris, the critically acclaimed science fiction grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studio. As the title suggests, Utopia gives you new tools to develop your galactic empire and keep your people (or birdfolk or talking mushrooms) happy. Push your species further out into the galaxy with new bonuses for rapid exploration or stay closer to home before striking out against all who would challenge you.
Stellaris: Apocalypse
Feb 22, 2018
Stellaris: Apocalypse redefines stellar warfare for all players with a host of new offensive and defensive options. Destroy entire worlds with terrifying new planet-killer weapons, fight against (or alongside) ruthless space pirates, and maybe discover a few non-violent game features as well.
Stellaris: MegaCorp
Dec 6, 2018
Stellaris: MegaCorp is the latest full expansion for Paradox Development Studio’s iconic sci-fi grand strategy game, which has players ushering in an era of prosperity and profit on a galactic scale. In this economy-focused expansion, players can become the CEO of a powerful corporate empire to expand operations across the stars.
Stellaris: Federations
Mar 17, 2020
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.
Stellaris: Nemesis
Apr 15, 2021
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.
Stellaris: Overlord
May 12, 2022
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.
Stellaris: First Contact
Mar 14, 2023
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!
Stellaris: Galactic Paragons
May 9, 2023
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.
Stellaris: Astral Planes
Nov 16, 2023
Includes a new core system and technologies. New planes to explore. New branching narratives.
Stellaris: The Machine Age
May 7, 2024
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!
Stellaris: Cosmic Storms
Sep 10, 2024
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.
Stellaris: Grand Archive
Oct 29, 2024
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!
Stellaris: BioGenesis
May 5, 2025
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.
Stellaris: Shadows of the Shroud
Sep 22, 2025
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.
Stellaris: Nomads
Jun 15, 2026
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.
Stellaris: Willpower
Dec 31, 2026
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.
Stellaris: Scenario Pack 2
Release date TBA
Rewrite the rules of engagement! Dive into curated, high-stakes standalone experiences designed to test your mastery of the Stars. Whether leading an ultimate extra-dimensional invasion or battling your friends in a race for dominance, these scenarios offer a fresh, distilled way to play Stellaris.
Stellaris: Scenario Pack 1
Release date TBA
Embark on a new set of galactic challenges! Experience curated, high-stakes standalone adventures that push your strategic limits. From a nomadic, roguelike odyssey across the stars to high-octane, combat-focused multiplayer experiences, these scenarios will provide a bold way to play Stellaris.
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