Comparison

Nova Empire vs Stellaris

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

Head to head
About

Nova Empire

Engage in epic galactic warfare with players worldwide in this next-generation online space strategy game. Build and customize your space station, design powerful fleets, and form alliances to conquer sectors of space. Experience real-time battles and strategic gameplay with stunning HD graphics.

Highlights
  • Real-time galactic battles
  • Alliance system for sector control
  • Fleet design and customization
  • Space station building
  • Recruit elite admirals
  • HD graphics and sound
Features
Read full description

Enter an epic battle for conquest of the galaxy with players around the world! An action-packed, next-generation online space strategy experience! FEATURES - BATTLE: Wage war with players worldwide for domination of the galaxy on an epic scale! - ALLIANCE: Create a mighty alliance to fight for control of entire sectors of space in a revolutionary new alliance system! - STRATEGY: Combine in alliance legions to form your attack strategy together then strike! - FLEETS: Design fleets with specific weapons and armor to counter your opponent’s strengths! - ADMIRALS: Recruit elite admirals to join your empire and lead your fleets to victory! - BUILD: Create and customize your space station to gain the advantage! - GRAPHICS: Strategy has never looked this good! Command space in spectacular HD! - REAL-TIME: See player fleets moving around the galaxy in real time! Watch as battles develop and make the correct tactical calls to claim victory. - MUSIC: High-quality music and sound production. - MORE: Always adding new features! This galaxy just gets better and better! Nova Empire’s story unfolds week by week, reshaping the galaxy before your eyes Welcome to Nova Empire, a next-generation strategy game. Get your fleets ready and fight for glory! SUPPORT Email us at support@gamebeartech.com Follow us on Facebook to get news and updates: https://www.facebook.com/NovaEmpireGame/

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

Nova Empire4 screens
Stellaris4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Nova Empire at none against Stellaris's shown. Nova Empire also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (47% vs 31%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Nova Empire sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Stellaris sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Nova Empire holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.1K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Nova Empire's written reviews are positive against 31% of Stellaris's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nova Empire ships an update every 6 weeks, Stellaris every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nova Empire versus Stellaris: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNova EmpireStellaris
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (5.1K ratings) — better4.0 (1.6K ratings)
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews — better31.1% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1K — better1.6K
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.8 GB1.4 GB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperGameBear TechGameBear Tech

Customer experience

Nova Empire

All ratings5,065 ratings
Positive84.5%
Neutral4.9%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews899 reviews
Positive46.9%
Neutral9.6%
Negative43.5%

Stellaris

All ratings1,598 ratings
Positive77.0%
Neutral5.4%
Negative17.5%
Written reviews341 reviews
Positive31.1%
Neutral10.9%
Negative58.1%

User reviews

Nova Empire

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent graphics and gameplay
  • 🔒 Secure and stable connection
  • 👍 Engaging alliance and community features
  • 🚀 Smooth progression for free-to-play players

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
  • ⏱️ Extremely long build/upgrade times
  • 💰 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win mechanics
  • 🔒 Poor customer support and lack of responsiveness

Stellaris

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 😂 Chaotic but fun
  • 🤑 Rewarding for free-to-play players
  • 🤝 Good alliance and community features

Room to improve

  • 🤑 Heavily pay-to-win
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔄 Repetitive and grindy
  • 🧭 Lack of in-game guidance and instructions
  • 🏃‍♂️ Server merges and shutdowns

Bugs and requests

Nova Empire

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Shields randomly deactivating during wars
  • Disappearing ships and lost progress after crashes
  • Inability to leave or switch alliances due to glitches

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to transfer resources between alliance members
  • More diplomacy options between alliances
  • Improved tutorial and onboarding for new players
  • Larger and more diverse galaxy to explore

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

10 purchases

Nova Empire

One-time10
  • Tiny Pack$0.99
  • Special Pack$1.99
  • Bonus Pack$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Medium Pack$9.99
  • Ultra Pack$14.99
  • Large Pack$19.99
  • Prime Pack$19.99
  • Huge Pack$49.99
  • Epic Pack$99.99
  • Dominator Pack$99.99
12 purchases

Stellaris

One-time12
  • GCC (Mini)$0.99
  • Small Pack$4.99
  • GCC (Small)$4.99
Show 9 more
  • Medium Pack$9.99
  • GCC (Medium)$9.99
  • Medium Pack$14.99
  • Large Pack$19.99
  • GCC (Large)$19.99
  • Huge Pack$29.99
  • Battle Pass (Elite)$29.99
  • Mega Pack$49.99
  • Ultra Pack$99.99

Questions

Is Nova Empire free?
Nova Empire 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, Nova Empire or Stellaris?
Nova Empire is rated higher. Nova Empire averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Stellaris averages 4.0 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Nova Empire or Stellaris have ads?
Stellaris shows ads; Nova Empire does not.
Which is updated more often, Nova Empire or Stellaris?
Nova Empire ships an update every 6 weeks, and Stellaris every 2 months. Most recently, Nova Empire was updated on September 24, 2026 and Stellaris on September 22, 2026.

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