Version 1.34 · in active development
AI Lab · Space strategy in your browser
Astral Dominion
Turn-based 4X strategy: explore, settle, research and conquer a living galaxy.
- Free — The game costs nothing — no fees, no subscription.
- Runs locally in your browser — No installation, in any modern browser.
- No cloud — Your saved games stay on your device.
The concept
Four Xs, one galaxy, many paths to victory
Explore
Chart star systems, uncover anomalies and meet alien species.
Expand
Settle worlds, develop colonies and steer your economy.
Exploit
Unlock technologies and the heritage of your species.
Exterminate
Design ships, lead fleets and command every battle.
12
playable species, plus your own
80+
technologies plus heritage
5
victory conditions
3–7
AI rivals per game
EXPLORE
A galaxy full of secrets
A new map every game
Spiral, elliptical, ring or cluster with 48 to 160 systems, repeatable by seed.
Anomalies and relics
Strange discoveries, ancient beacons and guardians reward bold exploration.
Pirates and the Nexus
Pirate nests threaten your routes, and an awakening power challenges the entire galaxy.
EXPAND
From home system to star empire
Your empire at a glance
Budget, output, population and score in one view.
Manage your colonies
Buildings, planetary policy and governors for every world.
EXPLOIT
The Research Observatory
Eight fields of knowledge
More than 80 technologies, from energy and fields to xenology and phenomena.
Five-tier species heritage
Every species has its own research path up to a capstone, such as a jump gate.
Two projects at once
A main project and a parallel project share your research output.
BUILD
Ships of your own design
Free ship design
Hull, weapons, shields, engines and armor within an energy budget.
Weapons with character
Kinetics, beams and missiles each have their own strengths against shields and armor.
Command your fleets
From frigate to titan: form task forces, refit, mothball.
FIGHT
Tactical battles: every order counts
Combat on a hex grid
Move or fire: every ship acts by initiative, and range matters.
Stations and defenses
Orbital stations and planetary defenses protect your worlds.
Command or auto-resolve
Fight turn by turn yourself, or let the battle resolve automatically.
NEGOTIATE
Diplomacy that remembers
Treaties and alliances
Trade, research, non-aggression and alliance, all built on trust.
Galactic Council
Elections and the chair: win two elections decisively for a diplomatic victory.
Crises and demands
The AI reacts to blockades and power projects, makes demands and announces wars.
OVERVIEW
Knowledge is power
Rankings and espionage
Compare empires and gather reports on economy, military and relations.
Galactic Codex
Every rule can be looked up and searched in the game.
And there is more
Even more depth
Twelve species
Each with its own character and AI personality; create your own species with strengths and flaws.
Five victory conditions
Domination, science, transcendence, Galactic Council or score.
Espionage
Surveillance, technology theft and sabotage, with the risk of being caught.
Galactic exchange
Trade minerals and credits; prices react to supply and demand.
Difficulty and pace
Five difficulty levels from relaxed to very hard, with adjustable game pace.
Atmosphere
An original soundtrack, turn reports and events tell your story.
Outlook
In development
Up next
Economy update
- More building slots per world, including orbit
- Galaxy-wide trading on the exchange
- New goals for the late game
Ongoing
Smarter AI
- Better war goals and alliance loyalty
- Fine-tuning from many test games
Planned
Graphics and immersion
- More artwork and effects
- Consistent design across all screens
Planned
Play on mobile
- Controls for tablet and smartphone
Behind the scenes
Built with AI, designed by people
Astral Dominion is built with AI tools — from the game logic and the user interface to fine-tuning from many test games. The concept, the rules and quality assurance are in our hands.
The game shows how far a complex project can be taken with AI support today. The same approach goes into the websites we build for clubs, private individuals and small businesses.
☕ Support
Enjoying Astral Dominion?
The game is free, and it should stay that way for everyone who simply enjoys playing. If you would still like to support its development, you can buy me a coffee — voluntary and with no strings attached.
The link leads to an external provider, whose privacy policy applies.
FAQ
Good to know
How much does Astral Dominion cost?
Nothing. The game is free to play, with no subscription and no fees.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Astral Dominion runs right in any modern browser — just open the page and start playing.
Where are my saved games stored?
Locally on your device, in your browser’s storage. There is no cloud and no user account. If you clear your browser data, your saved games are gone too.
Can I play on a smartphone or tablet?
The game is currently designed for desktop and laptop. Controls for tablet and smartphone are planned.
Which languages are available?
Fully in English and German, switchable right in the game.
Is the game finished?
Astral Dominion is fully playable and in active development. The current version is 1.34.