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I-War is one sweet game, perhaps even the best space sim - but i wouldnt call it strategy game ;)
Sins of a Solar Empire as a standard for UI considering the "Supreme Commander scale" of space battles.
The X-series aren't strategy games but sandbox spacetraders that are the closest to Capitali$m in space.
Independence War also isn't a strategy game but a combat simulator with emphasis on tactics.

I think the closest match for you is Imperium Galactica 2: Alliances though the game is good the strategy and rts is rather shallow.
Another match would be SW: Empire at War though also here the game is quite shallow.

I would also want to recommend Nexus: The Jupiter Incident, though not really strategy but a very good fleettactics game.
And Conquest: Frontier Wars, an rts with a lot of innovative ideas (unless you have Windows 8).
I wonder why noone mentions Star Trek: Birth of the Federation. It's a very good MOO2 clone in the star trek world :).
Though for the #1 game I'd also go for Imperium Galactica 2.
Also a honorable mention is Pax Imperia 2 imho. Of course the games mentioned by others are also pretty good, I'm just trying to add new games to the list :)

I also love the X series, but it's not really a strategy game. More a hybrid between space combat, trading and empire building. Freelancer on steroids :D
Post edited September 02, 2013 by blotunga
I've had a lot of good times with the Sword Of The Stars 1 Collection.
Post edited September 02, 2013 by Nomad_Soul
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AndrewMontgomery: Can anyone help me find the right Space Strategy game there's just too many to choose from! I'm looking for something with in depth 'empire' building but good real time combat as well. I love the total war games for example.
X3 Reunion, Terran Conflict + Albion Prelude
Homeworld 2
Haegemonia: Legions of Iron
Master of Orion 2
Space Empires
Galactic Civilizations
Imperium Galactica
These games in bold seem closest to the sort of thing I'm looking for but it's hard to tell what's best just by looking up videos etc and the ones below do seem good as well.

Star Wars: Empire at War
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Starpoint Gemini
Sword Of The Stars
Independence War/ I-War

Would highly appreciate some help! Have heard of other games like Sins of a Solar empire but I want in depth combat which I've heard it doesn't have.

Edit: Just found more games after a quick look on steam 0.0 my mind is blown by the number of these games:
Horizon
Stardrive
Armada 2526
Sword Of The Stars
If you're looking for real time, then several of those won't fit the bill as they have turn based combat. SMAX, MoO2, Space Empires & Galactic Civ all feature zero real time battles.

Another suggestion would be AI Wars. I've never been able to get into it myself (I hate RTS), but some people rave about it.
X series more of a flight sim + economy + trading + dogfighting + factory building + buying and flying new ships.