Sword of the Stars is a space 4X game by independent developer Kerberos Productions.
Sword of the Stars seeks to streamline the 4X experience through a simplified design intended to avoid feature creep. 4X games in recent years have tended towards complicated designs and steep learning curves, which can be intimidating for many players. Sword of the Stars takes a more back to basics approach, leaving out many features such as ground combat and fighters. It also features a more simplified colony development model that replaces buildings with infrastructure, which utilizes the planet's resource base to provide production points that can be utilized for infrastructure development, terraforming, producing space vessels, and production of trade goods capitalized for money.
Sword of the Stars is also noted for the use of completely different propulsion systems for each race, as well as completely different ship art.