Stellaris: Grand Archive is the final act of the game’s eighth Dlc season, and it’s a fascinating yet understated addition to Paradox Interactive’s huge space strategy universe. Unlike the mechanically strong The Machine Age or the graphically beautiful Cosmic Storms, this expansion takes a more creative approach, weaving seemingly unconnected gameplay aspects into a complicated tapestry of cosmic exploration and collection.

The Dlc is a daring but somewhat unfocused attempt to expand the Stellaris experience. While not revolutionary, Grand Archive includes intriguing mechanics that change how players interact with galactic ecosystems. It focuses on providing nuanced layers of strategic depth rather than innovation, particularly for players who enjoy micromanagement and structural complexity.

Grand Archive, aimed at dedicated Stellaris fans rather than casual players, distinguishes between adding important content and overloading players with new systems. The expansion appears to be geared toward folks who use spreadsheets as a...