Stellaris

Grand strategy game where you guide a spacefaring civilization from its first FTL jump through centuries of galactic expansion. You'll manage planets, research tech trees, design ship fleets, and conduct diplomacy with AI empires that have their own ethics and agendas. Exploration reveals anomalies and events that can boost your science output or trigger crises. Combat plays out in real-time pausable battles. The game's about long-term empire building—population management, resource chains, and choosing whether to federate with neighbors or conquer them. Procedural galaxies mean each campaign unfolds differently based on who you meet and what you find. Suits players who enjoy systems-driven strategy over scripted narratives.