Star Dynasties
NEW DLC OUT NOW
About the GameHumanity had just taken its first tentative steps in space, when the catastrophic destruction of Mother Earth plunges the galaxy into a new Dark Age. Centuries later, those few surviving colonies have stabilised into a simple feudal society, unable to comprehend or advance the technological artefacts they use to survive. Internecine fights between an aristocratic elite decide the fate of the scattered fragments of human kind.
As the leader of a faction of star systems, you must seek to ensure the survival and prosperity of your dynasty. Expand your empire, herd your unruly vassals, build political alliances, and navigate a web of agendas, political intrigue and social obligations, to emerge as the dominant power of the galaxy.
Forge Your Dynasty – One Generation at a Time
Your campaign will span through generations of your bloodline. Customise a faction leader and launch your quest for galactic domination. Even if you set out as a benevolent upstart duke, your great-grandchild may be cruel and vindictive. You’ll have to be ready to adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of your descendants.
Star in Your Own Space Opera
A feudal society is built upon strict rules and values. It will be expected of you to defend your vassals, protect your family and respect your neighbours. Act honorably and you can seduce the court of public opinion. Ingratiate yourself with others by throwing lavish feasts and solidify your alliances through marriage. Then strike ruthlessly when you can get away with it. Depose your unruly barons, threaten and force concessions from other dukes, and blackmail other characters to get what you want. Unearth the secrets of your enemies to ruin their political standing in a galaxy where reputation is everything.
Experience a Rich Galaxy of Emergent Characters and Storylines
You’ll be kept on your toes by a procedurally generated cast of hundreds of characters, each one trying to achieve their own personal goals. As events transpire, the choices you make can have a major impact not just on you; but on your heir, your house, and the fate of your empire.
Reign Among the Ruins of a Forgotten World
The remnants of humanity live inside structures which they cannot build, and travel inside machines whose workings are unfathomable. Expedition Events can grant you a piece of pre-Collapse knowledge; from the relics of a previous age of exploration, to the mysteries of the here and now. Improve your colony by repairing the pre-collapse buildings and installations you encounter to provide your people safety, food and other necessities.
Game Discussion
Steam User 30
Calling Star Dynasties 'Crusader Kings in space' is perhaps not the most helpful. On the one hand it's a selling point, and on the other it's a criticism. Star Dynasties does share the central mechanic of feudal dynasty building, but I think it should be considered on its own, rather than debating whether it's a good or bad clone job. The sci-fi setting is pretty important since it grants freedom for creativity and imposes mechanical focus. Every game is procedurally generated with fresh galaxies, factions, and stories. Sci-fi elements interject plot chains that can really shake things up, and the lore caps character count to produce a very tight politicking between the great houses. The game is turn-based and often slow-moving, but the game design means events tend to bunch up and unfold very rapidly. Star Dynasties is quite challenging and rewards patient play. Much of this is about balancing honour against expansion. Who can you afford to anger with an action, how do you cloak greed under upstanding conduct, and when should you openly invade? With the right actions you can pass off the worst tyranny as shining justice. Watching something you spent a dozen turns setting up play out as you wanted is very satisfying, although make a crucial mistake and it will blow up in your face. The latter can be frustrating because the rng your plan hinges on can be opaque, and the user interface could use some work, as it can obscure important relationships in less obvious places.
Star Dynasties is the work of a solo developer, and impressive because of that. Apparently it was not a big financial success, but it did get one dlc which adds some worthwhile content. We've become too used to games with years of post-launch support that we deem those that don't get it as unfinished or dead. While there are some aspects of Star Dynasties that would have been nice to see expanded, it is a complete experience now. It's good little game that should be better known because it does offer a unique spin on the genre.
Steam User 18
This is a laughably great game, especially for the $11 that I paid for it on sale. However, this is just my opinion, so please check my profile to get an idea of the kind of games I own. Also, there is a demo, which is highly recommended.
I usually don't do tutorials - not because I am smart - but because I often lack the patience to trudge through them. But I played the tutorial in this demo three times with no issues. This should convince most people if the game is for them or not.
It is sort of like a scaled-down Crusader Kings III in space. And is in some ways, more complex and sophisticated than Paradox's mega game. This game is so tool-tip friendly, I can hardly believe it. There is almost nothing in the UI that doesn't have a tool-tip explanation. And for a dullard like me, this is a great help.
As the game states up-front, this is not a paint-the-map, grand strategic combat sim, but is chock full of detail nonetheless. Being me, what I love the most about this game is the ability to call up a dev mode and play with the simulation. Almost anything goes here, and I would also recommend the DLC, as it allows one great freedom in creating a new game, plus other nice options.
Truth is that I'm an old man and a wargamer at heart, and a stingy one, no less. But because this game offers unlimited replayability, even a cheapo like me would consider paying full price.
Distant Worlds 2 is certainly a step up from this game (and has an awesome, in-game editor), but good luck picking that one up for less than $20. This game is more bare-bones - or should I say "streamlined" - with much less focus on combat than empire management. But it will run on a potato, takes up 1 gig or so, and I haven't run across any bugs myself.
I'm really impressed overall, and it's one of the better games this reviewer has picked up in quite a while.
Best wishes!
Steam User 11
I've heard about this hidden gem somewhere on Reedit while I was looking for a game with more focus on people than armies. I don't know why but this game is so immersive despite of minimalistic graphics, probably it's a personal taste but I feel more connected to the game world and personalities than in the Crusider Kings series. Also the sci-fi setting let's you to deep dive into the world of your dynasty in space. Do you remember "the Dune" book and how difficult political situation had the House Atreides? Here is the same. After 14h I feel like I still am discovering this game mechanics in a positive way (it's a kind of adventure). I like that all events have their consequences, not as a numeric bonus modifier like in other games but also as part of the world history and people feelings. People will remember things, will ask for justice, will revenge, blackmail, threaten, the longer you play the more interesting the web of connections is and the more immerse the world become.
Steam User 11
I absolutely love this game. Make the feudal family of your dreams to rule over the stars, and watch them fall apart with bickering, cheating, lying, assassination, incestuous encounters, and betrayals.
It's Game of Thrones in space, and I'm here for it 100%.
Steam User 5
If you played crusader kings this game is like a light space version of it that you can complete in some 10 hours. Doesn't fix any of the major flaws of CK II (i.e. interfacing with a vast array of characters via a map on which they are not represented). Not a bad pick up for an enjoyable spin if you see it on a sale.
Steam User 5
The short version for the people "in the know".
Basically Stellaris meets Crusader Kings and both of them are in their Alpha-Beta stages no DLC's and the DLC that they offer is the basic that should have been included in my opinion. I give it thumbs up for unique blend BUT I'm of a mixed opinion. Buy when it is on sale. Otherwise it's boring and bland 14 hours were the max for me.
The only "edge" you can get is the "Bloodline"(aka research or in CK terms dynasty traits).
Out of those 14 hours, 9 of them were without cheats with one family other hours were with cheats with the other family to test the game and boy it completely ruined any drive to continue playing after understanding that it is a loop system with road block elements. (Many games have it but without much to do and constant spam of legal issues it grows on you fast).
I've bought it at around 10 euro, stellaris vanilla can be bought on sale for almost the same price if not less and offers more features(Same applies to CK). But i'm content, 12 hours were ok, where i live it's 2 bottles of beer and a pack of chips that would make me content for 2 hours max.
Steam User 5
If you like crusader kings it's crusader kings in space and is the story generator