Stars! boasts even more components, and numerous technologies that can upgrade each area. The ship design interface is one of my most favorite features in the game: similar to Master of Orion, you can design your own ships by choosing various components. It is not uncommon for a huge battle later in the game to involve hundreds of ships or more, but the interface is so well-designed that managing your fleet is a breeze. The beauty of Stars! is that the game gets more complex as you play, without bogging you down with tedious micromanagement. Then you can set this up as play-by-email (PBEM) - a welcome feature that unfortunately not too many games nowadays support.

After choosing the size of the universe you want (five sizes are available, from Tiny to Huge), you can add up to 15 (!) other players, both AI or human. The game runs smoothly in a window, and everything you need to know about your budding empire (or a thriving war machine) can be accessed via menus or shortcut keys. What distinguishes Stars! from other galactic conquer titles is the multi-faceted complexity that is concealed beneath a deceptively simple mouse-driven interface. or any of several other victory goals universal domination is just the most fun and challenging. Undoubtedly one of the best and most underrated 4X strategy games ever made, Stars! is a massive strategic romp through the universe that plays best in multiplayer mode.

Download Stars!