In a preview of the game at Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Adam Smith wrote that Stellaris "could be Paradox’s finest hour, and a landmark in the development of both 4X and grand strategy design."
Nunha avaliación preliminar do xogo por parte de Rock Paper Shotgun, Adam Smith escribiu que Stellaris "podería ser o mellor momento de Paradox, e un fito no desenvolvemento do deseño do 4X e da gran estratexia".