Choosing the correct galaxy size can be the defining factor between a bad campaign and a good one in Stellaris.
We only have 5 choices of galaxy size without using mods. As you can imagine the correct galaxy size isn’t a one size fits all scenario.
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Larger galaxies tend to be more space opera-esque but hardware intensive. Whilst smaller galaxies tend to be easy on hardware but less grandiose in scope.
The starting galaxy you should choose is one your computer can run for a long-term playthrough, with decent performance, and that provides the gameplay experience you are seeking.
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What Galaxy Size Should You Choose In Stellaris
I cannot give you the answer to this question, it is one you will have to determine for yourself. The right Galaxy depends on the kind of game you want to play and what computer you have.
What I can do though is explain each galaxy’s gameplay style and what to expect when you pick it.
Tiny Galaxy
If you are after a knife fight in phonebox-style gameplay, this is the galaxy for you. There will only be 200 stars in this galaxy meaning resources and planets will be scarce.
This makes every system more valuable and wars with your neighbors over them common.
Being so small it also means you could run this galaxy on a very low-end system and still have a chance at some good performance.
Small Galaxy
Small provides double the space to spread out than tiny, containing 400 stars. You could make a case for this being a good first empire galaxy but I disagree.
If you find larger galaxies tough to contend with and want a much more relaxed game this one is for you.
Like tiny, small galaxies are not very resource intensive on the computer. You should be able to run this on most systems that meet the minimum requirements of the game.
Medium galaxy
This is the galaxy I recommend for first-timers. There will be enough going on in the galaxy to keep you on your toes and you will also have a lot of space to spread out. This will let you get everything you need to experience every mechanic in the game.
With 600 stars in these galaxies, you will be able to create a vast star empire to be proud of. This is where things get tricky, in terms of hardware requirements. Things have improved a lot over the years in terms of optimisation in Stellaris.
While leaps and bounds ahead of where it was, it is still far from great. Early to mid-game should be no problem for most computers but the late game may prove a challenge for some.
Large Galaxies
This is my personal favorite galaxy to play in. Managing all the other empires, the galactic council, and the amount of genocidal empires is a meaty challenge.
These galaxies will have 800 stars and will feel like you are playing in a vast space opera, which is exactly the gameplay I prefer.
Higher-end systems will be required to play these galaxies long-term. Failing that, if you are willing to put up with the occasional lag spike, you can get by with just a decent computer.
Huge Galaxies
At 1000 stars this galaxy will be gargantuan. The inter-empire diplomacy in a galaxy like this is very tough to manage. It is not uncommon to find yourself in multiple wars and not even know what they are all about.
If a vast space epic with almost limitless diplomatic interactions is your aim with Stellaris, you have found your ideal galaxy size here.
Will you need a supercomputer to run this? I don’t think so but your computer will need to be one of the best to run this game even past the early game.
You now know all you need to know about the different galaxy sizes in Stellaris. If you have any suggestions for this guide please let us know in the comments section below.