Easily the greatest 4x I've played in a very long time.

The factions are all truly unique and complex, and aren't just a single mold with a unique building or unit here or there. Want something a little different? Try the Broken Lords, whose population is conjured with resources instead of grown, and produce no food themselves. Or try the Forgotten, who can't research, but can only advance technology from trade, purchase, or (best of all) grand theft. Or try playing as the Cult of the Endless and see how you faire with only being able to build a single city. You have a lot of options here.

The amount of support the devs have shown after launch is phenomenal, and their creativity is bottomless. I thought they had pretty much expended their ideas after the Shadows expansion, and now we have the Allayi...

This game breathes atmosphere, and each faction has its own reasons for wishing to save/exploit/destroy Auriga. The lore is interesting, as are the multitudes of minor factions

A warning, though. The combat isn't bad, but it is certainly a little wonky. It seems to be a make-or-break system for a lot of people, but it's quite interesting if you can get the hang of it. Initiative is key. :)

Secondly, the AI is pretty dumb. It's good to cut your teeth on, but after a while you'll grow tired of its lack of tactics. There are some factions (The Forgotten in particular) that I don't feel it actually knows how to play at all. Bring your friends. Stomp through them together. Or stomp each other. The diplomacy system is very well put together, and doesn't feel tacked-on to fill out a checklist like it seems in many others of its type, so you can use it to your full advantage.

Thirdly, the quest system is a little tiresome. After one long game, you probably won't be seeing any you haven't already seen the next time you play. It would be nice to have many more to enhance variety in individual play-thrus. Also, the addition of large-scale, world-changing events is cool, but they also lack variety. Once you know them all, you'll simply be waiting for them to happen again, and they will. Enjoy seeing Minor Faction, Major Pain pop up in every game you play, and hopefully not too early in it ;)

A few minor gripes aside, there's an amazing game in here with endless (get it?) replay value. I've never had a 4x hold my attention for so long. Huuuuuge recommendation.

Easily the greatest 4x I've played in a very long time. The factions are all truly unique and complex, and aren't just a single mold with a unique building or unit here or there. Want something a little different? Try the Broken Lords, whose population is conjured with resources instead of grown, and produce no food themselves. Or try the Forgotten, who can't research, but can only advance technology from trade, purchase, or (best of all) grand theft. Or try playing as the Cult of the Endless and see how you faire with only being able to build a single city. You have a lot of options here. The amount of support the devs have shown after launch is phenomenal, and their creativity is bottomless. I thought they had pretty much expended their ideas after the Shadows expansion, and now we have the Allayi... This game breathes atmosphere, and each faction has its own reasons for wishing to save/exploit/destroy Auriga. The lore is interesting, as are the multitudes of minor factions A warning, though. The combat isn't bad, but it is certainly a little wonky. It seems to be a make-or-break system for a lot of people, but it's quite interesting if you can get the hang of it. Initiative is key. :) Secondly, the AI is pretty dumb. It's good to cut your teeth on, but after a while you'll grow tired of its lack of tactics. There are some factions (The Forgotten in particular) that I don't feel it actually knows how to play at all. Bring your friends. Stomp through them together. Or stomp each other. The diplomacy system is very well put together, and doesn't feel tacked-on to fill out a checklist like it seems in many others of its type, so you can use it to your full advantage. Thirdly, the quest system is a little tiresome. After one long game, you probably won't be seeing any you haven't already seen the next time you play. It would be nice to have many more to enhance variety in individual play-thrus. Also, the addition of large-scale, world-changing events is cool, but they also lack variety. Once you know them all, you'll simply be waiting for them to happen again, and they will. Enjoy seeing Minor Faction, Major Pain pop up in every game you play, and hopefully not too early in it ;) A few minor gripes aside, there's an amazing game in here with endless (get it?) replay value. I've never had a 4x hold my attention for so long. Huuuuuge recommendation.