Galactic Civilizations III
Turn-based space 4X with custom ships and multiple victory paths
Stardock Entertainment · Released May 14, 2015
- Reviews
- Mostly Positive
- 77% of 10K
- Recent reviews
- Not enough recent
- Playing now
- 81
- peak 24h 130
- Steam Deck
- Playable
- Last update
- 1 year ago
- Feb 27, 2025
Metacritic: 81/100 (critic reviews)
What is Galactic Civilizations III?
A turn-based 4X strategy game played across a hex-grid galaxy. Choose a human or alien civilization, colonize worlds, research technology, design ships, negotiate treaties, spy, and wage war in customizable sandbox games or a story campaign. Victory can come through conquest, culture, technology, or alliances.
For you if...
- +you like building empires through research, diplomacy, and conquest
- +you enjoy designing ships and customizing galaxy setups
- +you want single-player, PvP, or cooperative space strategy
Not for you if...
- −you want fast-paced action instead of deliberate turn-based play
- −you want peaceful expansion without recurring military pressure
- −you expect direct control over tactical space battles
What players say
77% of 10,401 reviews are positive
Players praise the sandbox mode, accessible strategic depth, and variety, particularly with the expansions. Common complaints concern uneven AI, snowballing balance, lingering bugs, and a base game that some consider shallow without added content.
Screenshots and trailer
Galactic Civilizations III system requirements
As published by the developer.
Minimum
- OS
- 64-bit Windows 10 / 8.x / 7
- Processor
- 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD K10 Dual-Core
- Graphics
- 512 MB DirectX 10.1 Video Card (AMD Radeon HD5x00 Series / Nvidia GeForce 500 Series / Intel HD 4000 or later)
- Memory
- 4 GB RAM
- Storage
- 12 GB available space
- DirectX
- Version 10
Recommended
- OS
- 64-bit Windows 10 / 8.x / 7
- Processor
- 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor or Equivalent
- Graphics
- 1 GB DirectX 10.1 Video Card
- Memory
- 6 GB RAM
- Storage
- 15 GB available space
- DirectX
- Version 10
PC version details
DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.
- DRM
- None declared on Steam
- Controller
- Keyboard and mouse
- Platforms
- Windows
- Achievements
- 102
- Steam features
- Workshop, Family Sharing, Trading cards
Steam Deck: Playable
- Sometimes shows mouse, keyboard or non-Deck controller icons
- All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
- In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
- Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
- External controllers are not supported for the primary player
Multiplayer and co-op
Languages
Full audio: English. Text only: French, German, Russian.
Tags
- Aliens
- Sci-fi
- 4X
- Turn-Based Strategy
- Sandbox
- 3D
- Grand Strategy
- Moddable
- Hex Grid
- PvE
- Strategy
- PvP
- Procedural Generation
- Turn-Based
- Space
- Third Person
Recent updates
- Feb 27, 2025 · GalCiv IV Releases New DLC and Free Update
- Feb 20, 2024 · Update Notes for February 20, 2024
- Oct 9, 2023 · Update Note for October 9, 2023
- Jul 27, 2023 · Update Notes for 7/27/23
- Mar 8, 2023 · Version 4.52 Change Log
17 DLC available.
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