If you are unfamiliar with Stellaris, it's basically a space-based RTS that gives you the chance to create your own empire from scratch and then lead them on a quest to conquer the stars. Like most other RTS games, combat is an integral part of Stellaris (i.e. the Apocalypse DLC), but diplomacy, exploration, and expansion is just as if not more important than your ability to destroy your enemies. The Distant Stars DLC, as the name suggests, seeks to expand the exploration aspect of the game by making it so that virtually every solar system you explore has something potentially interesting in it. In addition, Distant Stars provides an end-game for exploration fanatics in that some of the new gateways strewn about the galaxy have the potential to give your empire access to an entirely new region. Other gateways are far less exciting, serving as wormholes for instant travel across the galaxy more than anything else, but it does open up new possibilities for combat.
Solar systems with multiple stars, more incentives for exploration, more end-game tier content, these are all things that should please newcomers and veterans alike. The largest obstacle is simply finding said content. Once you do stumble upon some of the new Distant Stars content though, you may notice that it is generally a step above what is present in the base game. The new anomalies have the usual range of complexity, but this time around they are written in a more interesting way. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from skipping all of the text boxes that explain what's going on, but it seems like a bit of a disservice more than anything else. Perhaps the best example of this (outside of meeting a Leviathan or making your way through the special gateway) is the mini-quest chain that is initiated when you find a gateway. Alternatively, you can take a look at the expanded space-based lifeform interactions, which offers a little bit more depth and interactivity than before.
Stellaris: Distant Stars Game
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