Comparison

Starlight Tactics Unlimited vs Stellaris

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Starlight Tactics Unlimited

Command a fleet in a 3D turn-based tactical combat game. Build your strike group, manage your starships, and engage in strategic battles across the star system. Experience an unfolding story and unique physics-based combat mechanics.

Highlights
  • Full 3D turn-based tactical combat
  • Intense single player campaigns
  • Persistent fleet management
  • Physics-based combat mechanics
  • Freeplay skirmish mode
  • Original soundtrack by David Arkenstone
Features
Read full description

*** App Store Best New Game of 2015 *** "In terms of turn based tactics this is very unique. This is the first one of its kind to use 3 dimensions...and it works and functions very well. In fact this is the only true 3d strategy space game that I can think of since Homeworld movement-wise." "The details are great, especially with the battle. Keep up the good work!" "I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that I can ram, and/or fire upon my fellow ship(s) if I am not careful." "The concept of the game is great." "Saw you guys at PAX...lots of cool details and a great simulation of 3D space combat." Starlight Tactics puts you in control of a fleet. Build the perfect strike group, keep your starships in good repair, and command the wisely on the field of battle. *** Starlight Tactics requires at least an iPhone 5, iPad 3, or iPad mini 2. *** FULL 3D TURN-BASED TACTICAL COMBAT Every wanted to feel like you were really in space making life or death decisions that will determine the outcome of a war for our Star System? INTENSE SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGNS Play through two exciting and immersive fifty mission single player campaigns as you fight amongst beautifully rendered planets in our Star System. A STORY UNFOLDS WHILE YOU PLAY You are the center of a story which follows you through the greatest conflict humankind has ever known. FREEPLAY SKIRMISH MODE Brush up on your tactical skills as you play against the AI or a human opponent (shared screen experience). YOU OWN YOUR FLEET Be careful not to scratch the paint on your space fleet! Destroyers, Stealth Ships, Littoral Combat Ships, Cruisers and Carriers all persist from mission to mission in a SpaceDock where you requisition, rename, repaint, inspect, modify, repair, upgrade and decommission your forces. PHYSICS MATTER Smaller ships are hit by weapons that send them off axis. Plasma weapons can be used to hull asteroids toward enemy ships. Or just use your ships as battering rams to cause catastrophic damage! SOUNDTRACK BY DAVID ARKENSTONE Three time Grammy nominee and composer of music for World of Warcraft : Cataclysm, David Arkenstone brings his sensational talent to bear on Starlight Tactics, with musical themes to accompany every battle. The SpaceDock is waiting for you. Get started building your fleet today for FREE. Requires iOS7 or later. Compatible with iPhone 5 or later, iPad 3 or later, or iPad mini 2 or later. This app is optimized for the latest devices. This app offers in-app purchases. Please note that you may disable in-app purchasing directly from your device. For more information, visit http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213.

About

Stellaris

Lead the rebuilding of galactic civilization after an inter-dimensional invasion. Build your space station, explore star systems, form alliances, and wage war in a real-time universe with thousands of players. Experience an epic sci-fi story with strategic gameplay.

Highlights
  • Space station construction and customization
  • Form and join alliances
  • Intergalactic trade systems
  • Fleet design and warfare
  • Explore a real-time universe
  • Engage in event chains and uncover mysteries
Features
Read full description

Stellaris, the bestselling Sci-Fi strategy game, is finally on your mobile! The universe has barely survived an inter-dimensional invasion that devastated vast swaths of the galaxy. The United Nations of Earth requires your assistance and contribution to rebuild galactic civilization. Take control of your own space station and set a course to distant stars! On your way, you will discover new mysteries in the depths of the universe! Get ready to explore and discover a spectacular and real-time universe, where thousands of players play in a single galaxy with nearly a thousand star systems to explore! Construct your space station, form and join alliances to occupy regions of space together, trade with other players, build-up your own powerful fleet, and wage war against other players in the galaxy! A new Stellaris experience, exclusive for mobile: - Stellaris: Galaxy Command extends the Stellaris universe to mobile, putting space strategy and an epic Stellaris story in the palm of your hands. - Galaxy Command is inspired by many of the features and mechanics of the PC game, with new trading systems, ethics, political systems, and more. - With gorgeous visuals and aesthetics inspired by the PC game, fans of Stellaris will find familiar characters, graphics, and gameplay. Forge Your Alliance: - Work together with your teammates to build an empire. - Occupy territories, build defensive structures, set tax rates for passing trades, sign trade deals, and even work collectively to colonize planets. - Declare “cold” or conventional war and claim victory through economic strength or brute military force. - Convene with allies to form an attack strategy, then wage war on other players across the universe. Dominate Intergalactic Trade: - As you progress, and needs of your population grow, their demand will begin to outpace their own ability to produce everything. You will have to specialize your production through research, which means that you will need to trade with one another to meet basic needs. - Different sectors of space also contain unique and valuable resources—trade networks will naturally emerge, leading to alliances vying over lucrative territories. - As a player, you can choose to be a pure trader and buy valuable products from afar and sell nearby for profit. You can also specialize in selling specific resources to earn a greater profit. Alternatively, you could simply use auto-trade to satisfy your basic consumption needs automatically. Construct a Unique Station: - Create and freely customize the structure of your station, construct unique buildings, and upgrade them. Make Critical Decisions: - Experience mysteries and uncover captivating stories through a familiar event chain system. - Explore event chain systems capable of telling epic and meaningful stories that will influence your ultimate path. - Many events reference or are a direct continuation of the event chains from the Stellaris PC game. Design Your Own Fleet: - Create and modify your fleet design with in-game ship design mode! Upgrade your fleet for maximum power! - Join real-time battles and reinforce the fleets of your fellow alliance members. - Recruit elite admirals to join your empire and lead your fleets to victory! Features: - Open world, strategy MMO based on a bestselling Sci-Fi strategy game - Iconic Stellaris ships and mechanics - Become a leader or member of an Alliance - Control Trade Networks - Customize your spaceships to upgrade power - Battle with other players all over the galaxy - Breathtaking sci-fi music - Generous rewards for missions and quests - Excellent 3D graphics and beautiful galaxies to explore - This game is designed for mobile and is free to download. Download Stellaris: Galaxy Command now and take part in the space opera now! ___________ Privacy Policy: http://www.gamebeartech.com/privacy-policy-20170516.html?searchText

Screenshots

Starlight Tactics Unlimited4 screens
Stellaris4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Starlight Tactics Unlimited at none against Stellaris's shown. Starlight Tactics Unlimited also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (57% vs 31%). Stellaris's advantage is ratings volume (1.6K vs 20) and rating (4.0 vs 3.8). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Starlight Tactics Unlimited sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Stellaris sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stellaris holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stellaris has 1.6K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Starlight Tactics Unlimited's written reviews are positive against 31% of Stellaris's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starlight Tactics Unlimited ships an update every 4 days, Stellaris every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Starlight Tactics Unlimited versus Stellaris: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarlight Tactics UnlimitedStellaris
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (20 ratings)4.0 (1.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews — better31.0% of reviews
Number of ratings201.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size740 MB1.4 GB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperEscape Hatch Entertainment, LLCGameBear Tech

Customer experience

Starlight Tactics Unlimited

All ratings20 ratings
Positive65.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

Stellaris

All ratings1,598 ratings
Positive77.0%
Neutral5.4%
Negative17.5%
Written reviews342 reviews
Positive31.0%
Neutral10.8%
Negative58.2%

Bugs and requests

Starlight Tactics Unlimited

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Stellaris

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when trying to access solar systems
  • Account data loss and resets
  • Connectivity and server issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • More in-depth gameplay and strategy
  • Improved UI and navigation
  • Ability to customize ships and fleets
  • Meaningful single-player content

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Starlight Tactics Unlimited

One-time6
  • 1,000 Command Points$0.99
  • 5,500 Command Points$4.99
  • 12,000 Command Points$9.99
Show 3 more
  • 25,000 Command Points$19.99
  • 52,000 Command Points$39.99
  • 145,000 Command Points$99.99
10 purchases

Stellaris

One-time10
  • GCC (Mini)$0.99
  • Small Pack$4.99
  • GCC (Small)$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Medium Pack$9.99
  • Medium Pack$14.99
  • Large Pack$19.99
  • Huge Pack$29.99
  • Battle Pass (Elite)$29.99
  • Mega Pack$49.99
  • Ultra Pack$99.99

Questions

Is Starlight Tactics Unlimited free?
Starlight Tactics Unlimited is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Stellaris free?
Stellaris is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starlight Tactics Unlimited or Stellaris?
Stellaris is rated higher. Starlight Tactics Unlimited averages 3.8 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Stellaris averages 4.0 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Starlight Tactics Unlimited or Stellaris have ads?
Stellaris shows ads; Starlight Tactics Unlimited does not.
Which is updated more often, Starlight Tactics Unlimited or Stellaris?
Starlight Tactics Unlimited ships an update every 4 days, and Stellaris every 2 months. Most recently, Starlight Tactics Unlimited was updated on November 6, 2026 and Stellaris on November 2, 2026.

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