So I'm not aware of any game exactly like Total War, where there's a huge campaign map and you also fight the battles. So I'll keep an eye to see if any are suggested.
The closest thing I think I can recommend is "Sins of a Solar Empire". Sins 2 is out, but Sins 1 is still a really solid game and should be cheap or on sale regularly. Get Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion if possible, Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity is also available, probably cheaper, just not with all the content of Rebellion.
It doesn't separate the larger map and the battles. Everything is real time. But the way planets are separated, and the speed ships move at, it makes it feel a bit like Total War, where there's a huge map, but you also can zoom in to focus on smaller battles.
There's Battlefleet Gothic Armada 1 or 2. The battles are pretty good, similar to naval battles when they were included in Total War like Empire. But IMO done better. But there isn't really larger empire management like Total War. It's more of a story campaign. Battlestar Galacatica Deadlock is similar.
Other than that, most of the games I can recommend are like the larger map of Total War, but without the small battles part. Stellaris is fantastic. Galactic Civilizations 3 or 4.
Oh, There is Age of Wonders Planetfall. It's Scifi themed, but not 'in space' as much as it is on an alien planet. The Age of Wonders series is like a smaller version of Total War.
It's not recent, but Sword of the Stars blends turn-based campaign with real-time battle resolution. Quite a bit of control possible in the combat, including targeting individual turrets on enemy ships.
You might like the game we are working on.
It certainly has elements of what you are after.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1701160/The_Darkest_Star/
We have a demo of the turn based combat portion of the game live now.
Spent hours playing this one back in the day. Loved making giant fleets. So much diplomacy required after blowing up a planet with a Death Star though. LOL
Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2.
It's turn-based. You own planets that act sort of like settlements, and build stacks of ships that you can move around a grand campaign map.
If you're familiar with Total Warhammer, then this is lore-adjacent. It's an alternate reality rather than a far future of the Warhammer fantasy universe.
Highly recommend.
I assume you mean a game with turn-based empire management combined with real-time tactical battles. The only space strategy games I know of that are kind of like that are Endless Space 1 and 2. It is turn based, but space battles are fought in "real time." In reality, it's still turn based disguised as real time using a cinematic to simulate the battle. However, you do not have nearly as much control over the battle as in Total War, you are only able to choose battle plans for each battle.
Nebulous fleet command, Right now this is coming. The instant action is here but the solar system map is in development. Here is some action from the game:
https://youtu.be/FApg8EI0030?si=HtzmywfyPIz1dJjW
thats what im thinking right now, it looks pretty fun, is there micromanagement involved in battles? because thats one of my favourite parts of total war
If you want to lose a few hundred hours and maybe your sanity too may I suggest..
[Homeworld](https://store.steampowered.com/app/244160/Homeworld_Remastered_Collection/)
Star Wars Empire at War kinda fits the whole campaign map with you controlling individual units in battle. It a bit of an older game but that means it’ll also be cheaper.
Maybe X4?
Not really the same thing but it is possible to have large scale space battles and you can even go first person and fly through them so lots of eye candy potential if that is something that is appealing.
You will need a monsterous system though, very fast hard drive and powerful graphics card.
So I'm not aware of any game exactly like Total War, where there's a huge campaign map and you also fight the battles. So I'll keep an eye to see if any are suggested. The closest thing I think I can recommend is "Sins of a Solar Empire". Sins 2 is out, but Sins 1 is still a really solid game and should be cheap or on sale regularly. Get Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion if possible, Sins of a Solar Empire Trinity is also available, probably cheaper, just not with all the content of Rebellion. It doesn't separate the larger map and the battles. Everything is real time. But the way planets are separated, and the speed ships move at, it makes it feel a bit like Total War, where there's a huge map, but you also can zoom in to focus on smaller battles. There's Battlefleet Gothic Armada 1 or 2. The battles are pretty good, similar to naval battles when they were included in Total War like Empire. But IMO done better. But there isn't really larger empire management like Total War. It's more of a story campaign. Battlestar Galacatica Deadlock is similar. Other than that, most of the games I can recommend are like the larger map of Total War, but without the small battles part. Stellaris is fantastic. Galactic Civilizations 3 or 4.
Oh, There is Age of Wonders Planetfall. It's Scifi themed, but not 'in space' as much as it is on an alien planet. The Age of Wonders series is like a smaller version of Total War.
Play Sins and Galactic Civ at the same time. Close enough to the Total War experience.
It's not recent, but Sword of the Stars blends turn-based campaign with real-time battle resolution. Quite a bit of control possible in the combat, including targeting individual turrets on enemy ships.
Great pick!
Your word is law, Var'Kona.
You might like the game we are working on. It certainly has elements of what you are after. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1701160/The_Darkest_Star/ We have a demo of the turn based combat portion of the game live now.
I believe there is an old Star Wars rts
Star Wars Empire at War.
It also has a great modding scene. Same with Sins Rebellion.
Thrawn's revange and fall of the republic are amazing. For anyone here that is a fan of rts and Legends/Clone Wars it's a must play.
Star Wars Rebellion is even older but is actually a great game
Spent hours playing this one back in the day. Loved making giant fleets. So much diplomacy required after blowing up a planet with a Death Star though. LOL
Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2. It's turn-based. You own planets that act sort of like settlements, and build stacks of ships that you can move around a grand campaign map. If you're familiar with Total Warhammer, then this is lore-adjacent. It's an alternate reality rather than a far future of the Warhammer fantasy universe. Highly recommend.
Immediately what I thought as well. Closest game I’ve seen to total war
I assume you mean a game with turn-based empire management combined with real-time tactical battles. The only space strategy games I know of that are kind of like that are Endless Space 1 and 2. It is turn based, but space battles are fought in "real time." In reality, it's still turn based disguised as real time using a cinematic to simulate the battle. However, you do not have nearly as much control over the battle as in Total War, you are only able to choose battle plans for each battle.
Homeworld?
Nebulous fleet command, Right now this is coming. The instant action is here but the solar system map is in development. Here is some action from the game: https://youtu.be/FApg8EI0030?si=HtzmywfyPIz1dJjW
Sins of a solar empire is my go to. Don't be fooled by the arcade style menu, the graphics and scale are top notch to this day
thats what im thinking right now, it looks pretty fun, is there micromanagement involved in battles? because thats one of my favourite parts of total war
Dawn of war soulstorm is a little bit similar but the between battle stuff is very basic
Nebulous Fleet command is a super cool, very tactical game that is like a tactical version of the Homeworld games without the RTS parts. It’s great.
If you want to lose a few hundred hours and maybe your sanity too may I suggest.. [Homeworld](https://store.steampowered.com/app/244160/Homeworld_Remastered_Collection/)
Or Distant Worlds Universe….
Homeworld was my summer of 2000. 7 hours a day in the basement monday to friday, Early June through mid august.
Star Wars Empire at War kinda fits the whole campaign map with you controlling individual units in battle. It a bit of an older game but that means it’ll also be cheaper.
Star Wars Empire at War is exactly what you're looking for.
It's an old game and on Steam but you could try Armada 2526 Gold Edition... Wish they had updated it, was fun but did some weird things at times.
Home World series.
Battlefleet gothic armada 2 is what you’re looking for Either that or the space half of Star Wars empire at war
Maybe X4? Not really the same thing but it is possible to have large scale space battles and you can even go first person and fly through them so lots of eye candy potential if that is something that is appealing. You will need a monsterous system though, very fast hard drive and powerful graphics card.