Summary
- Sins of a Solar Empire 2 offers real-time galaxy simulation with classic 4X strategy gameplay.
- Construct key infrastructures like Light Factory and Military Research Station to progress efficiently.
- Prioritize building Heavy Factory to construct capital-class ships for defense against aggressive enemies.
Sins Of A Solar Empire 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the original game. This is a classic 4X strategy game in many respects but with a completely up-to-date playing style. It forgoes the usual turn-based approach, for a real-time galaxy simulation, very much the same way that Stellaris does.
7 Strategy Games With The Best Skirmish Modes
Many strategy games have a skirmish mode, but some games provide this feature with distinctly better gameplay.
This grand strategy game relies on the player exploring the galaxy, colonizing new planets and asteroids, and dealing with factional threats such as aggressive enemies. An important aspect of getting a good start in the game is making sure to construct the most important planetary infrastructure as soon as possible.
7 Light Factory
Constructs Small Ships
- Civilian orbital slots: 1
- Builds: Frigate and corvette class ships
The Light Factory should be one of the very first orbital structures that a Sins Of A Solar Empire 2 player constructs. In fact, most new start scenarios begin with a light factory already in orbit of the player’s home planet in this sci-fi strategy game.
The Best Grand Strategy Games Of All Time, Ranked
The best grand strategy games are often played out over several centuries, with some leaning into the immersion and role-play aspects of these eras.
Without a light factory, the player cannot build either frigate or corvette class ships, and this would mean they have no way to construct a ship to colonize any new planets or asteroids they discover. Overall, the light factory is a critical piece of infrastructure.
6 Civic Research Station
Boosts Civic Research
- Civilian orbital slots: 1
- Civilian research points: +1
There are two separate research trees in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2; civic research and military research. It is the civic research station that is used to boost the number of civic research points the player accrues over time.
Important infrastructure such as research stations are best built well within the defensive cordon of the player’s home planet. These are valuable and expensive parts of the player’s infrastructure and need to be protected at all times. However, over time, the player will find they run out of space to build in their home system and will need to build research stations elsewhere as well in this sci-fi game.
5 Military Research Station
Boosts Military Research
- Civilian orbital slots: 1
- Military research points: +1
The military research station is almost identical to the civilian research station, except that it produces military research points. These are used to open up advanced military technologies and strategies in the military research tree.
5 Strategy Games With Realistic Population Mechanics
Players who enjoy managing diverse populations will love what these strategy games bring to the table.
Once again, this is a valuable, high-priority target for enemy factions, and needs to be protected. Ideally, it will be constructed in the player’s heavily defended home sector. However, as the game progresses, the player will likely also construct additional military research stations in other, outlying systems on the star map as well.
4 Retrofit Bay
Enables Refitting Of Ships
- Military orbital slot: 2
- Only works for 1 ship at a time
As players progress through the game Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, they will unlock increasingly advanced technologies in the military research tree. This means that ships constructed prior to this research being completed, will not benefit from the new updated bonuses.
The retrofit bay is the solution to this problem. It can be used to update the design and fittings of ships to align with the current research levels. It can be worth building a retrofit bay anywhere that a player has set up a ship production hub.
3 Heavy Factory
Constructs Large Ships
- Civilian orbital slots: 2
- Builds: Battleships, carriers, dreadnaughts, cruisers, and battlecruisers
The heavy factory is crucial to a player’s infrastructure when playing Sins Of A Solar Empire 2. Without the heavy factory, the player cannot construct capital-class ships. These large ships are required for dealing with aggressive enemies.
Best 4X Strategy Games For PvP
These 4X strategy games have some of the best PVP modes where players can test their wits and mettle against others.
In some games, where the player has peaceful neighbors, it could be possible to put off building the heavy factory until a little later in the game. The danger here, though, is that there is a threat the player is not aware of, and they are caught with their pants down, unable to defend themselves with capital class ships.
2 Exotic Refinery
Produces Exotic Resources
- Requires no build slots
- Produces: Tauranite, Induriam, Kalanide, Andvar, and Quarnium
Once a player has set up their basic infrastructure in Sins Of A Solar Empire 2, it is time to start looking to the long-term, and the procurement of exotic materials. There are several ways to do this, such as salvaging derelicts and ship wreckage, but the easiest way is to construct an exotic refinery.
The exotic refinery can be used to produce small batches of any of the exotic materials, but only one type at a time. It doesn’t take up any build slots, so it is possible to build multiple refineries to boost output.
1 Trade Port
Generates Trade Income
- Civilian orbital slots: 2
- Can be used to customize the system economy
Generating credit income is an important aspect of the Sins Of A Solar Empire 2 gameplay. Although planets will produce a small number of credits natively, it is the trade post that really provides the best income streams, by empowering the commerce system.
Furthermore, the trade post can be used to customize and balance the economy of a planet or habitable asteroid, to sell off excesses, and to buy anything that is in a shortfall. Overall, this valuable piece of infrastructure should be constructed as soon as possible, once the player has become established.
Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is available now on PC.