Lords of the Black Sun
Released Sep 2014
Take command of one race to join the struggle for supremacy in the galaxy. As the leader of your empire you are tasked with exploring the stars, colonizing new worlds, managing your empire and conquering whoever dares to oppose you.
20% positive · 395 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
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Evaluation
Lords of the Black Sun launched out of Early Access on September 12, 2014. At launch, the developer (Arkavi Studios) stated they were committed to continued improvement and had short-term goals including German and Russian language support. They followed up with a series of post-launch patches: version 1.004 on September 19, 2014, version 1.01 on September 24, 2014, and the largest post-launch update, version 1.03, on November 17, 2014. That November patch focused on stability, balancing, and bug fixes, and represents the last recorded developer communication of any kind.
After November 17, 2014, there are no further news posts, patch notes, announcements, or developer statements. No DLC was ever listed or announced. The store description contains no mention of planned expansions, season passes, or ongoing content. The game launched as a self-contained 4X strategy title, and after the stabilization patches in the weeks following release, development activity ceased entirely. With no outstanding commitments, no unreleased DLC, and no developer communication since November 17, 2014, the game is best understood as a complete, finished product — development concluded with the v1.03 patch.
Evidence
Version 1.03 released — the largest post-launch update, focused on stability, balancing, and bug fixes. This is the last recorded developer communication.
Game officially launched out of Early Access. Developer expressed commitment to continued improvement, with short-term goals including German and Russian language support.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Iceberg Interactive
Achievements
15
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer
About this game
Lords of the Black Sun is an epic, complex, dense, turn-based 4X PC strategy game, set in deep space.
Take command of one race to join the struggle for supremacy in the galaxy. As the leader of your empire you are tasked with exploring the stars, colonizing new worlds, managing your empire and conquering whoever dares to oppose you.
The galaxy is full of secrets and dangers: Discover ancient ruins and artifacts, repel or befriend pirates, promote a general to guide your fleets to victory. Concoct complex plots with your allies or use your intelligence services to uncover weak spots on that threatening empire whose leader has vowed to destroy you.
Make sure to keep your population happy or be prepared to face protests against your rule, or in a worst case scenario, rebel factions within your empire.
Only the mightiest rulers can prevail in the depths of space. Are you up to the task of becoming a Lord of the Black Sun?
Take command of one race to join the struggle for supremacy in the galaxy. As the leader of your empire you are tasked with exploring the stars, colonizing new worlds, managing your empire and conquering whoever dares to oppose you.
The galaxy is full of secrets and dangers: Discover ancient ruins and artifacts, repel or befriend pirates, promote a general to guide your fleets to victory. Concoct complex plots with your allies or use your intelligence services to uncover weak spots on that threatening empire whose leader has vowed to destroy you.
Make sure to keep your population happy or be prepared to face protests against your rule, or in a worst case scenario, rebel factions within your empire.
Only the mightiest rulers can prevail in the depths of space. Are you up to the task of becoming a Lord of the Black Sun?
Key features:
- 8 major races each with their own ship designs, technologies, unique traits and unique abilities, meaning playing with each race is a different challenge and offers new ways to approach the game.
- Big, living universe: In addition to the major powers, independent races and pirate clans also claim the galaxy as their residence; their existence can be an annoyance, or a blessing if you can take advantage of them.
- Deep economical and political layer: War isn’t the only way to weaken your rivals. Diplomacy, inteligence and trade can be one of many powerful tools that, if used properly, can be very effective as well.
- Tactical Turn based combat.
- Create and customize your own ship designs.
- Generals: These unique and powerful units evolve as they battle and if used well can be the difference between defeat and victory.
- Randomly generated universe, tech tree and units: You will never play the same game twice.
- Empire shattering: Unrest might lead rebels to start a civil war which in turn might lead to the creation of a new, independent empire that might grow to rival your own.
- Plotting: Secretly finance a war against your rivals in order to weaken them or prepare a surprise joint war along with your allies in a bid to destroy that frighteningly fast growing empire.
- Human-like AI that doesn’t cheat and plays by the same rules as human players, while presenting a constant challenge.
- Play Multiplayer and Hotseat online via LAN or IP/internet.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 28, 2026
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