- Matrix Games
SummaryDistant Worlds is a vast, pausable real-time, 4X space strategy game. Experience the full depth and detail of large turn-based strategy games, but with the simplicity and ease of real-time, and on the scale of a massively-multiplayer online game. [Matrix Games]
Developer:Code Force
Distant Worlds
Released On:
Mar 25, 2010
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
My Score
Game Stats for Distant Worlds PC
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
75% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
25% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
84
Feels, in a good way, more like Master of Orion 3 than the real MOO3 ever did. It is very interesting, unique take to 4X-genre, very nice to play but needs more bloodthirsty AI opponents. War, not only skirmishes, please. [May 2010]
80
By playing Distant Worlds you are essentially creating your own epic space opera. Its living universe and great depth makes it a highly enjoyable and addictive strategy game.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
84% Positive
36 Ratings
36 Ratings
9% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
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 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.
PC Report
Oct 28, 2015
9
One of best 4x games made. It stands out with core game play complexity making room for strategic thinking and challenges. Ship designs while lack actual component placement on ship template it pays back with huge variety of them. Maybe you place fast charging hyper drive instead of fast moving one or maybe even efficient one for private sector. Everything is tracked, working marked and no "magic" teleportation of goods. To build ships you need resources(16 kinds) you need to mine them or buy them, maybe even smuggle them. Seams complicated? Well it is not. Private sector of your empire takes care of that. You are left with strategic thinking. Plan resources and secure them. Also get additional luxury resources for your planets to develop. Or even fight with aliens for super luxury ones, which are super rare and profitable. You plan fleets, attacks and diplomacy. Intelligence may be vital in survival if you fall back in tech. If all of this seams like micromanagement to you - automation is an option. Automate if it seams too tedious. AI will take care of it pretty average(not bad). Great innovation is racial victory conditions. Instead of usual 4X victory each race may have its own adding extra flavor to races. Best part is - huge galaxy is not just empires and planets. It is full of exploration encounters, special events and stuff to do besides usual 4X action. You actually feel like exploring galaxy in this game (which can be huge up to 1400 stars). And huge riches are there to be found (*cough* planet killers *cough*). Why this game is not THE best 4x - UI. Without all expansions it is horrible, with them it is just bad. After 200+ hours of playing I would say it is not buggy but just bad. Actions are hidden or simple tasks are many clicks away. Personally it does not ruin great game.
PC Report
77
Code Force is a small company, but it succeeded where more experienced studios failed – it created a worthy rival for Galactic Civilizations 2. Distant Worlds has its share of technical and ideological kinks to iron out, but this is definitely a step forward for the 4X genre.
Aug 15, 2011
67
Distant Worlds brings a breath of fresh air into the x4-genre, but only if you like micromanagement. Although newcomers can have fun also, thanks to the possibility of automation.
May 15, 2014
9
Put a grand strategy game in Space. Let the user decide exactly what micromanagement interests them--designing warcraft, planning espionage missions, and managing colonial growth for example--and let the AI handle the rest. Add a dollop of species differentiation and storyline, and a dash of modability, and you have a recipe for the best 4x available today. DW:U, now on Steam with reasonable pricing. Huzzah! The best 4x is now accessible*. (No, I don't mean vision-impaired accessible, the fonts are hard coded and hard to read on modern monitors).
PC Report
Jun 2, 2014
7
The scope and underlying detail in Distant Worlds: Universe is outstanding, but the game suffers from some basic (and correctable) AI flaws. A single ship within a fleet can become injured or run out of fuel and the rest of the fleet will basically sit paralyzed for a decade until your construction ships deal with the problem. Your advisors recommend missions that can be suicidal and colony defense (especially before bases are built) seems to be an afterthought. Fleet management is not straightforward (Google 'fleet posture' for a better description of how to manage them) unless you take their automation off. At some points gameplay is more like watching a movie **** than 'playing'. There is a significant internal database and set of tutorials, but you'll go wanting for information on a few basic commands (i.e. how do you disband a fleet to cut costs? or how do I find out when requested items will complete their builds?). I intend to give the game more time to impress. Be prepared to give the game 20 hours of test play to learn its nuances before getting into any 'real' game.
PC Report
May 27, 2014
5
I never played any games from this franchise so was a little surprised when they described it as 4x game they meant a 4x real time game instead of a 4x turn based game like Civilization. Not so important I guess but RTS's aren't my preference. To start I've only played for about 2 hours. Based on that the game is somewhat entertaining. Having the AI carry out monotonous tasks is extremely useful. But even starting as a pre-warp civilization is challenging and I found myself quickly overwhelmed by numerous pirate factions. I hired some of these pirate factions to fight for me but found it difficult to distinguish who was on my side and who wasn't. Also, the graphics ****. In all fairness however, I get the feeling if I take the time to explore this game, it might actually be worth the $50 I shelled out to buy it.
PC Report
Sep 1, 2014
2
What a joke. This game was clearly programmed by amateurs (college students on their first year maybe ?). The inventory is extremely cluttered and hard to read. It's like Sins of the Solar Empire, but worse in most aspects. Not creative and doesn't bring anything new to the genre. Better play classics like Glactic Civilizations or Endless Space. Not recommended !
PC Report
May 2, 2013
0
For a strategy game it is epic in scope as it is in cost. Probably the most costly game on the market if you buy all the expansions. For what, a single player experience? No thanks.
PC Report
