Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 82 | 14 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 77 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 15 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 80% | 74 | 505 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 15, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 505 total reviews in window · weighted 198.5 up / 49.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (65)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“There are no drastic changes in Endless Space 2. Amplitude focused on everything that was good in original game and made it all just a little bit better. If that's what you're after, then you won't be disappointed.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Endless Space 2 takes what made Endless Legend great and spice it up even more with new and exciting features such as trade markets and unique factions. A must-have for 4X fans.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Fans of 4X games set in space will be pleased to know that Endless Space 2 is a real high-quality product. It's well made as well as engrossing. That's it. I really hope that Amplitude's new game wins the same acclaim as another successful cosmic strategy, Stellaris.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“All in all, Amplitude have taken care to craft a massive 4X game, building on their experience to deliver a fantastic experience.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“This verdict is highly caveated. Short of the balance issues, and, of course, these massive game-breaking bugs, Endless Space 2 is actually really great. It hits many right notes of the 4X genre. It is fun and hours slip away. However, seeing games that are clearly not ready to be released getting shipped off, only to have massive fan complaints and hotfix after hotfix is a very bad trend in the industry. It is hard to recommend a game, no matter how fun it may be, when it can't be finished.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Endless Space 2 bolsters Amplitude’s reputation for superb, unique 4X faction design. The interwoven narrative and management mechanics produce a universe within which its easy to lose yourself, but some lingering bugs suggest the game may have launched prematurely.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“While many of the main gameplay mechanics remain like the original, many smaller changes have been made to improve the overall gameplay experience. The UI is wonderful and the varied faction mechanics allow for a good amount of replay ability. There are plenty of joyous empire building moments to be had in Endless Space 2 and it also contains a good level of strategic depth especially in multiplayer.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Fans of 4X gaming cannot really go wrong here. Endless Space 2 is a well-crafted game, that is expansive in all the right places, precise where it needs to be, complicated in an engaging way and truthfully, wonderful to look at. It’s also, after a bit of a time-investment (the tutorial is well-structured in this regard), pretty welcoming to any curious passers-by. Endless Space 2 has that special, addictive, one-more-turn quality about it. There is real style here, and a hell of a lot of substance to back it up.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Endless Space 2 doesn't sugarcoat the 4x experience, and it can be daunting when you realize that all 600 icons on the screen have a tooltip you need to read to make just this one decision. Despite all that complexity, none of it seems unnecessary, which means every one of those tooltips has essential information.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Endless Space 2 is a glorious (and graphically awesome) iteration of the tired 4X formula. There are some interesting innovations that can lead the genre a little further together with some quirks in the interface that can lead to frustration for the more advanced players.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Outstanding depth and tactical challenge have been preserved, although not at the expense of the strong storytelling needed to emphasize the sense of awe and wonder in galactic exploration that’s always been a huge part of the genre’s appeal. Amplitude has done a masterful job combining these two elements into a single game, where the quests and strategy and politics and economy are all tied into a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“A charming title with a breathtakingly good interface, Endless Space 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor.”
read full review ↗
…and 53 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Community Update Out NowDec 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Labor of Love - Upcoming Community PatchNov 24, 2025
- Community Patch PreviewOct 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Re-Awakening Update Available NowMar 7, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- (Re)Awakening Update Beta Branch - Academy OverhaulSep 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- (Re)Awakening Patch BetaJul 28, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- An Update Regarding Dark Matter and Monstrous TalesMar 31, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Polishing ES2: The Final PatchAug 31, 2020
- Polishing Endless Space 2: The First PatchJul 1, 2020
- Muck & Makers Content UpdateMar 27, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Harmonic Memories, Celestial Worlds, & Patch 1.3.27!Nov 15, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.3.14Sep 24, 2018
- Renegade Fleets update is live!Sep 11, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.3.9] Patch notesAug 27, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- RELEASE NOTES - "SUPREMACY" [1.3.3]Aug 2, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Supremacy - BehemothsAug 1, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.23] Patch NotesMar 29, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.23] Patch NotesMar 29, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.20] Patch NotesMar 21, 2018
- [1.2.20] Patch NotesMar 21, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Lost Symphony, Untold Tales, & patch 1.2.18!Mar 12, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Lost Symphony, Untold Tales, & patch 1.2.18!Mar 12, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.2.11 -- Guardians & the GalaxyFeb 19, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.2.11 -- Guardians & the GalaxyFeb 19, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.8] Patch NotesFeb 8, 2018
- [1.2.8] Patch NotesFeb 8, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.6] Patch NotesFeb 1, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.6] Patch NotesFeb 1, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- [1.2.4] Patch NotesJan 25, 2018
- [1.2.4] Patch NotesJan 25, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Community Add-On Update NotesJan 18, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Community Add-On Update NotesJan 18, 2018significant · resets scoring window
