A surprise hit in the US when it was released there earlier this year, this real-time strategy game from a relatively small developer has taken a while to make it to these shores. Thankfully, it has been worth the wait.

Strategy gamer fans may already be familiar with the term ‘4X’. This refers to four central gameplay components – exploration, expansion, exploitation and extermination – and pretty much sums up Sins of a Solar Empire.

As one of three different factions you start with a single planet and some loose change and must build up a galactic empire by amassing resources, extending your reach to neighbouring star systems and defending yourself against attack from your enemies.

That probably doesn’t sound revolutionary and, in fact, one of the game’s key strengths is the way that it sticks to many of the unwritten rules that make other great strategy titles – Civilization, for example – so addictive. As such you’ll find many familiar elements in place, such as advancing technology through research and the ability to spread your influence through diplomatic, economic and cultural dominance as well as by military means.

There are plenty of neat touches too, such as a bounty system that allows you to put out a price on your enemy’s head. It helps that the game looks and sounds excellent, too, and the attention to detail is evident whether you zoom in to a single trooper or zoom out to take in an entire fleet.

If we had one minor criticism, it’s that Sins of a Solar Empire doesn’t have a story-led single player campaign of any kind. Instead, you’re left to indulge in an infinite number of one-off campaigns, either against artificially intelligent opponents or against other players either online and over a network.

In practice, this lack of traditional plot isn’t a significant flaw. Sins of a Solar Empire is likely to be a big hit amongst established strategy fans and – thanks to an accessible user interface and a relatively sedate pace – casual gamers alike.