Stellaris was billed as 4X meets Grand Strategy, and is developed by the company that is the undisputed master of grand strategy games (Paradox). My idealized vision of a 4X game is one of empire growth and expansion that feeds into a titillating geopolitical strategic experience. Stellaris's early game is a wondrous thing. You, the ruler of a newly space-faring empire of mammals, avians, fungoids, or any one of a number of other weird, alien lifeforms, are set free to.

Stellaris is a 4X strategy game set in the future within an outer space Galaxy, where players have the option to either use a pre-created empires or customize their own. With the end goal of creating the most powerful empire in the Galaxy, players can determine their fate by deciding how they want to approach the different gameplay scenarios. Will they destroy other civilizations or help create them?

Run on Clausewitz Engine, Stellaris was first published by Bethesda Softworks in May 2016 on Windows, OS X & Linux and was later made available on PlayStation 4 & Xbox One in February 2019. The game is currently available in both single-player and multi player modes.

Stellaris has received positive reviews, with a rating of 9/10 from users on Steam, where players have spoken highly of its science fiction appeal and extensive customization freedom.

Stellaris Save Game Files Location

Depending on how you installed Stellaris (via Steam or Paradox Launcher), and the operating system you're using, your save games will be in a different path. Find help for your setup below.

Windows

Steam

If you're playing Stellaris on Windows via Steam, your save files will be in this folder:

Hit WINDOWS + R, paste the above path into the text field and hit OK to quickly open up that folder.

Paradox Launcher

Paradox Launcher versions of Stellaris on Windows have save files at the following path:

Mac

Steam

If you're playing Stellaris on a Mac via the Steam client, your game save files will be in this folder:

Paradox Launcher

Stellaris installations via the Paradox Launcher on Mac will have their game saves at this path:

Linux

Steam

Stellaris on Steam on Linux operating systems saves game files in this folder:

Paradox Launcher

If you're playing Stellaris via the Paradox Launcher on a Linux-based operating system, your save files will be at:

Stellaris Screenshot Folder

Windows

In Stellaris, you can take a screenshot by pressing the F11 key. After taking a screenshot, it'll be saved into this folder:

Note that the above path is for screenshots taken via Stellaris (via F11), not via Steam, which is the F12 key. If you used F12, you took a Steam screenshot (not a Stellaris one), see this guide to locate Steam screenshots instead.

Mac

Screenshots taken via Stellaris on Macs will be saved in this folder:

For screenshots taken via Steam (F12 key) see our how to find Steam game screenshots guide instead.

Stellaris Mods Folder

Windows

On Windows, the Stellaris mods folder can be found at:

Steam:

Paradox Launcher:

Mac

On Macs, you should place (and can find) your mods in this folder:

Steam:

Paradox Launcher:

Linux

Linux devices have their mods folder at:

Steam:

Paradox Launcher: