Astro Protocol

Astro Protocol is a turn-based 4X space strategy game built around matches lasting about an hour. You lead one of six premade factions or design your own, expanding across a randomized galaxy and competing against AI rivals that expand, court minor factions and attack on their own initiative. Randomized technologies, anomalies, maps and victory conditions give each match a different strategic challenge.

Expand across the galaxy

Establish your empire by building space stations and colonizing planets. Stations harvest resources from asteroids, gas giants and stars; refinery stations improve their efficiency. You can also terraform planets to support industry, research or logistics, with each placement shaping your empire’s development.

Research and adapt

Research technologies across three branches to unlock ships, stations, terraforming options and upgrades. The available technologies are randomized each match, so you must adapt rather than rely on a fixed build order. You can explore anomalies scattered across the galaxy for unpredictable rewards, from abandoned vessels to powerful technologies that can reshape your plans.

Choose from six playable factions with distinct mechanics and strategic strengths, or build a custom faction using 97 traits. Matches also feature 12 minor factions, 12 planet types, 100+ technologies, 100+ anomalies and four map generators.

Fight on a hex grid

Combat uses a hex grid with one unit per tile, making positioning important. Each ship has a distinct role, attack profile, shields, armor and abilities. You assemble fleets, upgrade ships and exploit enemy weaknesses against rival factions. There are 26 ship types.

Race for victory

Each match has one of nine randomized victory conditions, which you can complete through expansion, combat or exploration. You can also win by exterminating your rivals. The AI plays to win: its opponents expand, court minor factions and attack on their own initiative.