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 63
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
I am going to give this Reviewing thing a go. Let me know if it helps or if I rambled too much.
I consider this one of my perfect "Sunday Afternoon" games. A game that is perfect for turning your brain off and not getting too heated before Monday shows its ugly head. This game is not a masterpiece, so why is great for a lazy Sunday Afternoon?
PROS:
Many random events. The game allows for many different scenarios and events to take place as attempt to help your Space Family survive the Game of Galactic Thrones.
Art: great art. Some of it is really well made, and I enjoy the portraits of the events. (Not the characters. More on that below.)
Replayability- This game is so replayable. So many starting conditions, different ways for the AI to play, and you can go from winning to loosing to winning again in a turn or two. Always gotta stay on your toes in this game.
CONS: No game is perfect. Here is some of the glaring issues.
Character- Kinda ugly. They don't look great haha. They work though.
Battles- You can have some cool wars, but the battles take place in menus that are pretty confusing. Takes time to understand but there is still more RNG than is comfortable. Usually comes down to making sure your Commander has a crazy high Military level and that is about the only strategy to win.
Lost in Menus: Takes awhile to get used to the menus. Once you are used to it, you are fine, but the first little while is quite the quest.
Conclusion: Perfect Single Player, no internet required, randomly generated, Family in space, strategy game for that afternoon that you just want to zone out before returning back to real life. I find myself going back to it every other week due to it doing exactly what I want out of a 7/10 game. (5/10 if the issues bug you that bad.) Reliable, not addicting, and has an entertaining element that allows me to revisit when it whenever I want. It is also not too demanding of a game, which is also fantastic. Enjoy!!
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 7
I don't have very much time in on this game yet but I like it.
My oldest son has tried to kill me 3 times I'm done with him I should have killed him but i didn't.
I'm going to leave everything to my younger brother just to piss off my son.
Steam User 8
Crusader Kings + Dune = LOVE.
And I could have ended with that, but I have to say it saddens me this game was not further developed, since Glen Pawley (the solo developer) had more plans for it, like guilds, piracy (there is a mod for this, I haven´t tested yet) and even different cultures! Saying that, is still a great, charming and smart game. THe only fault is that we would love to have more of that.
Steam User 5
Crusader kings in space, with enough uniqueness to stand on its own. Great game to scratch the Dune itch, wish more people knew about it!