What are the best ways to make the game harder?

[Number 7]

I've been finding it a bit easy, which is nice in a relaxed, empire management style way. but i would like to be challenged a bit more

 

[Mrakvampire]

Internal empire management of wide empires should be more challenging - separatism of remote/other species colonies should be a constant headache.

 

[Alblaka]

Internal empire management of wide empires should be more challenging - separatism of remote/other species colonies should be a constant headache.

Hah, with the current grab-all-traditions-anyways even me impoverished slaves of the 25% happyness faction are at 60% final happyness and never produce any unrest.

 

[Gyrvendal]

If you've already tried insane difficulty and found it too easy I guess the next step is mods...

 

[Space Chicken]

Hard to say as you didn't mention how you play currently.

 

[Zealuu]

Play Fanatical Purifier on a higher difficulty with AI aggressiveness set to high? Everyone will mass DoW you at the drop of a hat

 

[ightenhill]

Mods with more micro and detail I guess

 

[Antiochus V]

I've been finding it a bit easy, which is nice in a relaxed, empire management style way. but i would like to be challenged a bit more

Harder difficulties can help, as can role playing rather than optimising your strategy. Try making an 'interesting' rather powerful species to play as, and play as your species might react to the circumstances.

I would try and find some mods to make things harder, I am sure a few exist.

 

[Number 7]

Harder difficulties can help, as can role playing rather than optimising your strategy. Try making an 'interesting' rather powerful species to play as, and play as your species might react to the circumstances.

I would try and find some mods to make things harder, I am sure a few exist.

that might be a good idea, i played a fairly peaceful empire for the first while but after i had a giant doomstack i walked around subjugating via vassalisation any threats to the republic, while generally being on good terms (for migration treaties) with a lot of people. There was an aggressive hive mind that didnt like me and ate one of my allies so i went and subjugated them etc.

I'll try a xenophobic empire that doesn't want allies and enslaves aliens / lets them live with limited rights only and no vassalisation to see if i can create an empire thats hated by others instead of liked by half the factions, and create some bigger internal problems. Should harm my research too, i was playing pretty 'tall' last game

 

[Elfwind]

Have not one, not two, but three fanatical purifiers spawn with two right next door.

Also one of them had bullsh** luck with 3 gaian worlds and infinity machine.

 

[Antiochus V]

that might be a good idea, i played a fairly peaceful empire for the first while but after i had a giant doomstack i walked around subjugating via vassalisation any threats to the republic, while generally being on good terms (for migration treaties) with a lot of people. There was an aggressive hive mind that didnt like me and ate one of my allies so i went and subjugated them etc.

I'll try a xenophobic empire that doesn't want allies and enslaves aliens / lets them live with limited rights only and no vassalisation to see if i can create an empire thats hated by others instead of liked by half the factions, and create some bigger internal problems. Should harm my research too, i was playing pretty 'tall' last game

I think you can also create some empires which will then appear on the campaign map, this can add some variety and even challenge.