Distant Worlds: Universe

 PC
Distant Worlds: Universe Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 98 Ratings

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  • Summary: Distant Worlds is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of turn-based strategy, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. GameWatcher
    Jun 12, 2014
    90
    It's a challenging and complex game packed with features that allows you to choose just how you want to play it, while accommodating a wide variety of play-styles and strategies.
  2. PCGamesN
    Jun 27, 2014
    90
    An exceedingly complex, infinitely rewarding space strategy game. It’s made me more excited about the genre than any other game of its kind since Galactic Civilizations II.
  3. Digitally Downloaded
    Jun 17, 2014
    90
    Distant Worlds: Universe is a corker. But make no mistake: while it’s not as forbidding as some Grand Strategy games, patience and a degree of head-scratching will be required. But it’s worth the effort. It’s enormous, complex and – above all – fun.
  4. Gamer.no
    Jun 18, 2014
    90
    An already great game returns as one of the best space strategy games ever made.
  5. IGN Italia
    Jun 2, 2014
    79
    A one-of-a-kind 4X, Distant Worlds blends epic scale and macromanagement. The Universe release doesn't bring a lot of new content, but is a nice wrap-up nonetheless.
  6. Eurogamer
    Jun 30, 2014
    70
    While Distant Worlds may be a paragon of its style, I can only recommend it to a select few: those with beefy computers and plenty of time to really dig into the meat of this stunningly elegant and impressively wide-ranging bit of software.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 4 out of 23
  1. Animorganimate
    May 23, 2014
    10
    Distant Worlds has ruined me for other space-based 4X-strategy games, which is a genre I love more than any other. I try to go back to GalCivDistant Worlds has ruined me for other space-based 4X-strategy games, which is a genre I love more than any other. I try to go back to GalCiv and MoO once in a while, but nothing matches the scale and minute level of control that Distant Worlds offers. I'll be playing this for years to come.… Expand
  2. Legimon
    Sep 7, 2014
    10
    One of the best 4X games I´ve ever played. Together with the very active modding community this game means endless fun for hours. AlreadyOne of the best 4X games I´ve ever played. Together with the very active modding community this game means endless fun for hours. Already played 240 hours since i bought it a couple of months ago.

    I was lucky to find it by accident. Would miss it badly now.    … Expand
  4. alienrenegade
    May 26, 2014
    10
    If You are a fan of MoO, Endless Space, Space Empires or any other great 4X sci-fi You should definitely buy Distant Worlds: Universe. ThisIf You are a fan of MoO, Endless Space, Space Empires or any other great 4X sci-fi You should definitely buy Distant Worlds: Universe. This game is a true gem in this genre and with the modding capabilities added in the last expansion You can play this game in Mass Effect, Star Trek or other themes. Definitely the best 4X sci-fi game ever created.

    TL:DR
    Totally must have for any 4X sci-fi fan!    … Expand
  5. Silaith
    Jun 19, 2014
    9
    DW is instantly marvelous. The micro-management is incredible, you really feel the power in your hands, and you lead the fate of a galaxy.DW is instantly marvelous. The micro-management is incredible, you really feel the power in your hands, and you lead the fate of a galaxy. Background is correct. Hard to play it is very FUN (in a Dwarf Fortress means ahah). You could design your own ships!

    BUT : Graphisms are in 2D (however it is certainly better for your computer). And some gameplay features are not perfect (the beginning in dark ages is too fast, space creatures too weaks).

    THE 4X, until DW 2 is coming! ;)    … Expand
  6. Krotera
    Aug 11, 2014
    9
    I've used Metacritic a lot, but this is the first game that urged me to sign up and write a review. I've also played many sci-fi 4X games, andI've used Metacritic a lot, but this is the first game that urged me to sign up and write a review. I've also played many sci-fi 4X games, and this has to be one of the best. It's not new and it looks a little dogeared compared to other titles (although I love the native Windows UI; you can even print out pages of the in-game manual, just like that!) and it's not as complex as Aurora (though, if you know what that is, you'll know why it doesn't count), but it's richly detailed AND features the optional (and pretty comprehensive) automation to not get overwhelmed by that if you're not into constant clerical work and micromanagement!

    This game misses a lot that I've seen in other games of the genre (the ability to create your own species, a more expansive research tree, better unit selection, like with the Control key), but it has so many great features that I HAVE seen in other games and thought, "Why doesn't THIS game have that too?!" and many more I haven't, from huge scale to attention to fuel mechanics, weapon firing arcs and projectiles that can miss, ship handling, and detailed and moving bodies around stars, that I dare call it a modern crowning achievement in sci-fi 4X. How it's this good and I've NEVER heard about it until it hit Steam, I have no idea, but it hurt.

    If, like me, you love these kinds of games and have been disappointed with new and sexy yet relatively shallow titles like Endless Space or neat but rather limited ones like Star Ruler (not that it's apples to apples with either of those), this is a surprisingly refreshing discovery [and you should get it (now)].    … Expand
  7. LordStryker
    May 25, 2014
    9
    Phenomenal take at a 4x game. Hard to find a similar game that compares. This incarnation offers so much variation and, consequently, anPhenomenal take at a 4x game. Hard to find a similar game that compares. This incarnation offers so much variation and, consequently, an enormous amount of unique gameplay. Eagerly awaiting DW 2.… Expand
  8. JaysWay
    Dec 17, 2014
    0
    I was a new player for Distant Worlds and i gave up after watching more than 6 hours of crappy tutorials & gameplay.
    I didn't even managed to    I was a new player for Distant Worlds and i gave up after watching more than 6 hours of crappy tutorials & gameplay.
    I didn't even managed to folow 1 of those from the start, because the development progresses differently during gameplay.
    The game is over documented like a 30 yo text base game, and doesn't show new players what it's all about. To me it seems like some programmer is trying to create a game that cannnot be understand by normal people who love space games, he's just trying to annoy us ! Well, SCREW THIS WANNABEE SPACE GAME, it has lost me ( and i'm sure a lot more people )    … Expand

See all 23 User Reviews

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