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By
Nicholas Becher
Published 35 minutes ago
Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.
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Despite recent changes to Xbox Game Pass' subscription model that left players frustrated, it remains one of the most popular services in gaming, offering players immense value and a ton of excellent free games.
One such free game that was recently added to Xbox Game Pass is the hit 4X grand strategy game Stellaris, a massive game with multiple 9/10 reviews that is estimated to take upwards of 90 hours to fully complete (via HowLongToBeat.com). Game Pass Essential subscribers can start playing today, and non-Game Pass subscribers can purchase it on Xbox at a massive discount for a limited time.
Stellaris Is A 90-Hour Behemoth
Ships travel through space in the video game Stellaris
4X fans and lovers of all things sci-fi will absolutely want to dive into Stellaris, even if you don't have 90 hours to commit. As with most 4X grand strategy games, "completing" the game isn't necessarily the goal, and with Stellaris, you're really getting more of a sandbox experience than anything else.
There are a ton of components and systems at play in Stellaris, and while it can be overwhelming on your first campaign, part of the fun is learning how all of these things work. Further, the game has role-playing elements in that you can choose your own species, strategy style, and more.
Ultimately, you don't need 90 hours of free time to enjoy Stellaris, so don't let the massive size and elaborate systems in the game deter you from trying it out. There's a huge learning curve that many 4X players will appreciate, and if you've never tried Stellaris, now is the perfect time to check it out via Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass' December Lineup Is Stacked
Bloom & Rage one of the four friends from behind speaking to three others, all teenage girls.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers are having a great end of the year, with a ton of great games heading to the service in December. Already added this month are Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, with games like Dome Keeper on the way later this week. Another exciting December game on Game Pass is Routine, a sci-fi horror and survival FPS from Lunar Software.
Overall, it's going to be a great month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, and if you're a fan of grand strategy 4X games, Stellaris is an essential addition to your library. With the year coming to an end and the holidays fast-approaching, keep your eyes peeled for more incredible free games to launch on Xbox Game Pass.
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Like Stellaris 4X Grand Strategy Systems
OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Avg:
81/100
Critics Rec:
77%
Released
May 9, 2016
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Violent References, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Paradox Development Studio
Publisher(s)
Paradox Interactive
Engine
Clausewitz Engine
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op
Genre(s)
4X, Grand Strategy
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