Distant Worlds

This pausable real-time 4X space strategy game follows the growth of an interstellar empire across a vast galaxy. The player explores star systems, expands their territory and deals with other empires, independent colonies, traders and pirates. A galaxy can contain up to 1,400 star systems and 50,000 planets, moons and asteroids, as well as nebulae, black holes and traces of long-lost civilizations.

Private citizens handle tasks such as mining resources, transporting cargo, migrating between colonies and tourism, reducing the need for micromanagement. Diplomacy includes negotiating treaties and trade, while pirates can provide information or carry out jobs in exchange for payment. Players can lead a standard empire or a pirate faction, pursue storylines with victory conditions, or build their power in an open-ended sandbox mode.