Need your 4x space fix but find the likes of Stellaris just a bit too long? Perhaps keep an eye on the upcoming release of New Stars. It will have full Native Linux support at release.
"New Stars is a galactic 4X grand strategy game. Stranded on a new colony, and the last of your kind, you must advance your empire, from within and without. Go head-to-head with alien empires and build the greatest empire to survive the test of time, or be the last remaining in the galaxy to succeed."
Speaking to the developer asking them why someone would go for this game rather than an established name, this is what they said:
1) Relatively fast-paced - Each games last a few hours on average.
2) Straightforward mechanics - (Should be) Easy to learn with a new tutorial system.
3) Graphics - galaxy has improved since screenshots, with optimization for low-end devices.
4) UI - unique with elements inspired from a wide range of games.
There are similarities to Stellaris, such as the fleet management and fleets in general, however the gameplay, mechanics, and pacing is a lot different. Civilization and Stellaris were originally the main inspirations for the game, but New Stars is it's own game.
Highlighted Features include:
- Customize your empire from world preferences, different ideologies with their own bonuses, hundreds of empire icons and more. Customize a unique galaxy based on your chosen settings. There are five different galaxy sizes to choose from.
- Unique empires, species, and clans exist within a customizable and procedurally generated galaxy with limitless possibilities, and thousands of unique planets, stars and worlds. Some planets have valuable resources that can be collected.
- Explore star systems and discover new secrets of the galaxy, and find clues to your lost home. Discoveries such as white dwarfs, ancient ruins, lost ships, and much more can be found between the abyss. Some planets have hidden features that increase their value.
- Expand your empire across new stars to new frontiers, and build strong colonies that will power your galactic economy. Collect natural resources from planets and stars using starhubs. Beware of pesky barbaric clans that may plunder your resources for their own gain.
- Merge ships into one fleet, and combine them against your adversaries. Defend against attacks by upgrading starbases, or fortifying your colonies. Research new ship types or advanced military capabilities to get an edge over your alien foes.
- Declare wars, trade resources, make agreements, declare friendships, share intel, forge powerful alliances, and much more. Some empires may be openly hostile or require appeasing, others may be cooperative, and some may be integrated into your empire.
- Construct modular starships from unlocked modules, and turrets. Unlock larger ships and more powerful ship types, sections, turrets, and more. There are almost limitless combinations to meet your empire's needs.
Their latest progress report video can be seen on it below:
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Direct Link
Direct Link
You can follow it on Steam. It will enter Early Access later this year.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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13 comments
ExpandingMan May 31, 2023
This seems mostly useful for trying to get people who refuse to play Stellaris (which is clearly the greatest game in existence) to play Stellaris. Such people have told me that Stellaris is "a horrible map game".
1 Likes, Who?
Might be interesting. There are times when I don't quite have the energy to fire up Stellaris; I usually end up going back to MOO2, but this would be something to try. Thinking of which, this game represents an interesting passing of the torch. For all these years, every time you had a space 4X, it was basically inspired by Master of Orion 2. Well, except for two games I'm aware of that basically went back to reproduce Master of Orion 1!
I think it says something about Stellaris that it has enough impact that now a new space 4X is inspired by Stellaris instead of MOO.
I think it says something about Stellaris that it has enough impact that now a new space 4X is inspired by Stellaris instead of MOO.
4 Likes, Who?
Civilization and Stellaris were originally the main inspirations for the game, but New Stars is it's own game
Interesting... Didn't expect that based on the name. Kinda figured it was inspired by, well, Stars!.
I bounced off of Stellaris pretty hard, I think part of it was the real time aspect, which I've never really been good at, lol (I get too distracted by... Everything)
1 Likes, Who?
I spend most of my Stellaris time paused. Like, I let it run until something happens, then I pause it while I handle whatever. Or I'll pause it when nothing is even happening, like if I decide it's time to go through the planets and see what development they need, it's paused while I look through the list. I've never tried to fiddle with stuff while it's running, too paranoid I'll miss something. So for practical purposes, for me, it's like turn-based only with variable-length turns.Civilization and Stellaris were originally the main inspirations for the game, but New Stars is it's own game
Interesting... Didn't expect that based on the name. Kinda figured it was inspired by, well, Stars!.
I bounced off of Stellaris pretty hard, I think part of it was the real time aspect, which I've never really been good at, lol (I get too distracted by... Everything)
If I'm thinking of the same thing, I heard good things about Stars! but never got my hands on it.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 31 May 2023 at 11:40 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
So for practical purposes, for me, it's like turn-based only with variable-length turns
That makes sense! The variable length turns reminds me of Aurora 4X, where to can advance a variable about of time (it's always paused in that sense).
I did that with Star ruler 2 (great 4x), although since the battles were also real time on the map, it still be came very hard to manage, lol.b on the other hand, it did open up some really interesting possibilities with the regards to battles on multiple fronts.
If I'm thinking of the same thing, I heard good things about Stars! but never got my hands on it.
I believe it is freeware/abandonware. I've played it. It is very much a product of it's time.... Windows 3.1 spreadsheet UI with almost no graphics. I found it hard to get into for that reason. I gravitated toward the older (and simpler) MOO 1 (and then later 2)
0 Likes
I'm so glad I finally found >1 people who know and played Stars!
It's obviously a niche game, but pretty awesome for its age
IMHO it actually even aged well when considering game mechanics and ease of interaction... but yeah, the UI was ugly even back then (a bit better in the newer versions, which it had many)
It's a pity New Stars really isn't an improved Stars!, because I'd definitely like a refreshed version of it.
It's obviously a niche game, but pretty awesome for its age
IMHO it actually even aged well when considering game mechanics and ease of interaction... but yeah, the UI was ugly even back then (a bit better in the newer versions, which it had many)
It's a pity New Stars really isn't an improved Stars!, because I'd definitely like a refreshed version of it.
1 Likes, Who?
This seems mostly useful for trying to get people who refuse to play Stellaris (which is clearly the greatest game in existence) to play Stellaris. Such people have told me that Stellaris is "a horrible map game".
It was, but lately it is a hot mess. The late game devolves into horrible micromanagement because sectors/planetary automation has been broken for 3 versions now. The only viable method of reducing that load is to spin off sectors as proper vassals.
I'm so glad I finally found >1 people who know and played Stars!
Still have my original manual from back in the day. So 2 people. There are dozens of us! DOZENS!!!
1 Likes, Who?
junibegood Jun 1, 2023
I can totally understand the idea of creating a game inspired by Stellaris but shorter and simpler.
But let's be honest, it does not seem "inspired by" Stellaris, it looks like alpha footage from Stellaris. All the features mentioned exist in Stellaris, the map is almost identical (but looks better in Stellaris), the UI feels very similar (but looks better in Stellaris). The art direction for ships, stars, planets... might be a bit different. It feels a bit more cartoonish from the screenshots, but I'm not sure if it's done voluntarily of if it's just a failed attempt at copying the style of Stellaris again.
I hope I'm wrong and they are just showcasing everything they have copied from Stellaris for marketing reasons, but I see very little creativity here
But let's be honest, it does not seem "inspired by" Stellaris, it looks like alpha footage from Stellaris. All the features mentioned exist in Stellaris, the map is almost identical (but looks better in Stellaris), the UI feels very similar (but looks better in Stellaris). The art direction for ships, stars, planets... might be a bit different. It feels a bit more cartoonish from the screenshots, but I'm not sure if it's done voluntarily of if it's just a failed attempt at copying the style of Stellaris again.
I hope I'm wrong and they are just showcasing everything they have copied from Stellaris for marketing reasons, but I see very little creativity here
1 Likes, Who?
I don't see the unique point, neither in the screen shots nor in the description there is something that sets it apart from Stellaris. Maybe they should go for the points that are on the wishlist of Stellaris players since ... ever, that ist actual tactical combat in space and on the ground. Or maybe asymetrical factions, or maybe you aren't the leader of the faction but the one who receives commands, or every faction has specific goals to fulfil, or a tighter story line and less sandboxy. There is room for space 4x beyond Stellaris, but not if you are so similar to what you are "inspired" by.
I am still waiting for a space game like Ascendancy.
I am still waiting for a space game like Ascendancy.
0 Likes
sectors/planetary automation has been broken for 3 versions now.It was always broken. Just, there was a time when they didn't admit it. I was always like "OK, new sector, say goodbye to decent management of those planets". I'm happier just micromanaging them.
1 Likes, Who?
Stars! whatever the interface is f*n gold gem of a game! But sounds like this is not refreshment of that. One of the greatest things in stars was free travel (no stupid ass lanes :) between stars), construct able jump gates (aka ya feel like in Babylon 5) logistics (fuel and resources) that are probably best I have ever seen.
0 Likes
Stars! whatever the interface is f*n gold gem of a game! But sounds like this is not refreshment of that. One of the greatest things in stars was free travel (no stupid ass lanes :) between stars), construct able jump gates (aka ya feel like in Babylon 5) logistics (fuel and resources) that are probably best I have ever seen.Really sounds like someone should steal all that stuff and make it pretty.
0 Likes
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