How does this game compare against Stellaris?

[Soto_Black]

What are the differences between the two games? If you already own Stellaris and enjoy it, would it be worth it to purchase this game? Are there any significant differences?

[Fleshbits]

Both are devoid of any kind of complicated strategy and I reckon someone with 110 IQ would have to put effort into losing on either one with hard diffuculty on.

I also feel like both did nothing new for the better.
Stelarris did the card system, but that actually made the game worse. Never take away decisions in a strategy game! Decisions are the core of strategy!

Endless Space 2 really didn't do anything new at all in the space 4x genre that I could see. The simplified combat is also a snooze fest.

[Undergrowler]

Use the search function!

[Li77lehorn]

Originally posted by Tarm:

Use the search function!

I searched yesterday for the same question and in most of the threads people didnt actually give much infomation. They mostly said do a search. So I was doing circles and the info was stretching back further. I too was curious on the comparisons of both games, positives and negatives of both. And since this game is full release, a more recent thread answering this question could maybe be helpful.

[Undergrowler]

Originally posted by lil:

Originally posted by Tarm:

Use the search function!

I searched yesterday for the same question and in most of the threads people didnt actually give much infomation. They mostly said do a search. So I was doing circles and the info was stretching back further. I too was curious on the comparisons of both games, positives and negatives of both. And since this game is full release, a more recent thread answering this question could maybe be helpful.

Then you have weak Search Fu. I've read threads here about this the last couple of days.
Anyway I haven't played Stellaris so hopefully someone that has will jump in and tell you about the differences. Hope you get your answers then.

[Nope]

I play Stellaris 270 hour so far, and i like it, 1 of the best space strategy game. You need to micromanage almost everything, like a space civilization simulator. Stellaris real time game, this is the biggest difference with other 4x games.
That game 1 year old, no big bugs in it now. But still need 1 more year to reach the full potential with DLCs and expansions, right now without mods little bit "dry".


I have ES2 but so far I play just a little, because so many bug in there like a beta game. But what I see in youtube gameplay, this game probably even will be better than, vanilla Stellaris when the devs fix it.
I like the lore feeling in this game and the movie like combats ( i even slow down the animation speed), and the very different races.

Fortunately I dont have to choose, because both best in their category. But I think ES2 need a big bug fixing patch or 2 before its really done.

[LunarCainLegacy]

People really can;t research properly anymore it seems when both games are so easily different in its gameplay mechanics and its own uniqueness

[Khorum]

Originally posted by Fleshbits:

Both are devoid of any kind of complicated strategy and I reckon someone with 110 IQ would have to put effort into losing on either one with hard diffuculty on.

I also feel like both did nothing new for the better.
Stelarris did the card system, but that actually made the game worse. Never take away decisions in a strategy game! Decisions are the core of strategy!

Endless Space 2 really didn't do anything new at all in the space 4x genre that I could see. The simplified combat is also a snooze fest.

What "card system" in Stellaris are you talking about LMFAO? Stellaris dumbed down the depth and of Paradox's Clausewitz EU/CK model for a space 4X, but despite the bugs it's still one of the best space 4X games out now.

If you're unimpressed with both games, why don't you illuminate us what rises to YOUR standards of great contemporary space 4x games them! I'll bet we'll be hearing a lot of "*sniff* I stick to the classics like MOO2!"

[Bullymays]

Stellaris has more micro management of individual planets and a lot more "stuff" going on in the galaxy and building. ES2 so far seems that it is a little more simplistic to get into but has the ability if you want to go more in depth. I like both concepts a lot and they are not really similar. For people that don't have a history or play rts like the nerd above who didn't like either, its like saying zelda and baulders gate are basically the same game. They are different by miles.

I just got it, have had zero bugs in multiplayer, and it does build quite a bit on ES 1. I like having "side quests" as an option while striving for end game and the distinct differences in gameplay in factions.

It's not as "in depth" as Stellaris or some others, but it is really well done so far and the games flow nicely. The most important thing, if you play space rts games, you will get your hours out of this game more than 99% of them out there for forty bucks.

[JH]

Originally posted by No Body:

That game 1 year old, no big bugs in it now.

That seems like a remarkably generous assessment.

[HolyMole]

ES2 is a better looking game with an intuitive feel.

Stellaris is a harder game with more depth.

It's not hard to snowball in ES2. (e.g. expand early, fortify yourself, pump influence, then buy everyone out with SOI-buy-out research unlock...)

It's much harder to snowball in Stellaris. (e.g. expand unchecked/unplanned then you suffer a huge research penalty/debt which leads to fleet-size vs tech-level checks and balances, focus too much on research and you'll have trouble with production/militant powerhouses, you can compensate rapid-expansion-research-penalty via e.g. vassalization but wait too long to do so and you can find yourself in a political can-of-worms where the vassal-to-be has gained protection status from a competitor on another front, etc... if you designed your game without ancient races or end-game events, then it's a little easier to snowball.)

ES2 has cool races with interesting story elements out-of-the-box, however this comes at the cost of custom races feeling subpar.

Stellaris has less memorable races out-of-the-box, but creating custom races is pretty seamless. (Easy to make something with it's own identity.)

In ES2, you can just declare war and go to town (unrest aside).

In Stellaris you have to declare war intentions when declaring war.

Both have some notion of "heroes". ES2 has heroes, they have their own ships you can invest in, they have their own sense of identity, and apply to colonies/fleets. Stellaris has leaders, they feel generic but can have desirable stats/modifiers, they age/die, and apply to science/colonies/fleets/armies.

ES2 has playable races with special game-mechanics.

Stellaris playable races don't have special game-mechanics.

ES2 is still being updated, with things like plots/quests being added. I don't recall these standing out when I played (not sure if they were implemented yet), so can't speak to this too much till I play again.

Stellaris has a good amount of quests/plots along with ancient races and things like end-game events. Some of these are pretty fun/crazy imo. However, some content is provided as DLC.

ES2 combat is basically card-based, with an option to watch the battle unfold.

Stellaris combat is not player controlled either (aside from a retreat button), and plays out in real-time.

ES2 is turn-based.

Stellaris is real-time (with several levels of speed including paused).

----

I get different things out of ES2 and Stellaris. So, if you have Stellaris and are wanting to explore something a little different... then you can decide if ES2 is different enough.

I think ES2 has cool characters, interesting designs, and is decent game-wise. So if that's what you're after, then go for it?

Though, if what you're really after is gameplay-depth, why not stick with Stellaris?

[Alien]

Originally posted by Fleshbits:

Both are devoid of any kind of complicated strategy and I reckon someone with 110 IQ would have to put effort into losing on either one with hard diffuculty on.

I also feel like both did nothing new for the better.
Stelarris did the card system, but that actually made the game worse. Never take away decisions in a strategy game! Decisions are the core of strategy!

Endless Space 2 really didn't do anything new at all in the space 4x genre that I could see. The simplified combat is also a snooze fest.

If you had a 110 IQ you'd know that you don't play immersive space strategy games to find a challenge. You play to fancy your path in the galaxy as either a prescripted faction with associated quests (ES2) or your own designed empire (Stellaris).

Stellaris combat system is currently not working and won't until the next big DLC or even the one after that. There are also several other mechanics that don't work properly or that are lacking. However, it's much easier to "learn" and feels less like a spreadsheet than ES2.
ES2 is more suited for people who want to create elaborate strategies, it's easier to get lost in the tech tree or in the economics system. If you want to put your imagination at rest a bit, it's the better game, since you have faction quests.

All in all, I'd say that between the two, Stellaris is the perfect game to have fun (with multiplayer with friends or family in mind). It's certainly not the deeper game (there's simply not much to do out of combat, and combat isn't interesting), but it allows for fun situations and it's easy to roleplay. ES2 is the perfect game if you have a few hours in solo to play and discover the unique story of each faction, while shaping your beautiful empire - I may be a bit Horatio-biased.

It depends on tour favourite tone, really. Stellaris is a bit like an action movie with a straightforward scenario where everything is resolved through violence and friendship ; ES2 is more like a road movie - you know you'll stay on the road, but a lot of nice things will happen.

[Demonbox]

Stellaris has a more "classic" take on the 4x genre, it's a good game with a lot of options (micr/macro management), but the differences between races are just numbers, +2 at doing this, -2 at doing that, that's why most end up playing with a custom race.

ES is more stylish (looks way better imo) and somewhat "simplistic", but each race plays completely differently, from start to the end, and it has an amazing lore, which is not there in Stellaris.

All in all both good games, but I see Stellaris as a dumbed down version of other great 4x titles, for example Distant Worlds Universe, Endless Space 2 is for me a beast of its own I don't usually compare it to other 4x games.

[NO 1H DUEL PLEASE]

Originally posted by Fleshbits:

Both are devoid of any kind of complicated strategy and I reckon someone with 110 IQ would have to put effort into losing on either one with hard diffuculty on.

I also feel like both did nothing new for the better.
Stelarris did the card system, but that actually made the game worse. Never take away decisions in a strategy game! Decisions are the core of strategy!

Endless Space 2 really didn't do anything new at all in the space 4x genre that I could see. The simplified combat is also a snooze fest.

And this ladies and gentlemen, is a pretentious sperglord.

[Paladin333]

I don't understand all these people praising Stellaris for it's depth, Stellaris is Doomstack simulator, nothing more nothing less. You build 1 milion ships of same design and take over galacy, all other aspects of the game is just for flavor. You don't need them to win a game.

[Nats]

So many of these comparison posts ... why dont people just watch the videos and make their own decisions. As if you are going to get unbiased views in a game forum.