If you are looking for the Grand Strategy Space Empire game, you need not look much further then Stellaris, it covers most of the desires you could have, a modest customization option where you can create your empire as you may want it to start, the game has a learning curve that is not to dangerous and you will pick up most things relativly fast.

I found the game intersting to play solo or cooperativly with friends, be prepared though you wont finish a game in one sitting, you will have hours or even days of governing your empire and leading your fleets across the galactic map according to your specifications.

If you like space empire games like Master of Orion, Endless Space among many other this is a game you will like and play for a very long time, the DLC's are for the most of the time not to pricey and does bring alot of unique differences to the galactic table, along with a soundtrack that is both epic and easy to listen to for hours.

update 2019-06-30:

With most fo the major recent dlc and a mechanism change a few patches back the game has changed allot since first review, but it stil holds up to snuff, the most recent dlc added relics and archeology to the game, It gives some nice lore and effects to expand you gameplay.

If you are looking for the Grand Strategy Space Empire game, you need not look much further then Stellaris, it covers most of the desires you could have, a modest customization option where you can create your empire as you may want it to start, the game has a learning curve that is not to dangerous and you will pick up most things relativly fast. I found the game intersting to play solo or cooperativly with friends, be prepared though you wont finish a game in one sitting, you will have hours or even days of governing your empire and leading your fleets across the galactic map according to your specifications. If you like space empire games like Master of Orion, Endless Space among many other this is a game you will like and play for a very long time, the DLC's are for the most of the time not to pricey and does bring alot of unique differences to the galactic table, along with a soundtrack that is both epic and easy to listen to for hours. update 2019-06-30: With most fo the major recent dlc and a mechanism change a few patches back the game has changed allot since first review, but it stil holds up to snuff, the most recent dlc added relics and archeology to the game, It gives some nice lore and effects to expand you gameplay.