Stellaris Infernals brings the heat to the strategy game's universe, and I can't wait to burn it all down

No matter how many hours I put into Stellaris, there's always so much more to explore. New civilizations to build, new aliens to meet, and new Crisis Paths to follow. I don't think I'll ever see everything this game has to offer, and that's before we even talk about the host of DLC available. The latest such add-on is the Infernals Species Pack, which brings a fiery flair to the cold dark of outer space.

The headline act of the Stellaris Infernal Species DLC are the new playable alien races and volcanic worlds they can inhabit. While these bird-like, crocodilian, and bug-headed creatures certainly look cool, there's another element of the DLC which excites me more: the new Crisis Path.

For those of you who don't know, a Crisis Path is an endgame for Stellaris. As one of the best strategy games going, there are naturally myriad paths to follow. A Crisis is either a galaxy-ending threat or an ascension to the point where you become a galaxy-ending threat, and Infernal Species' addition is a fun twist on the formula.

Galactic Hyperthermia (not hypothermia, this is DLC about getting hot, remember) will allow you to terraform stars into red giants in order to more efficiently transfer energy and bring back the good old days when the universe was a whole lot hotter. Thanks to the Galactic Crucible megastructure and the ability to produce Entropy Conduits, you'll be able to set the galaxy ablaze to create your ideal climate. Honestly, I'm writing this in the cold British winter and it sounds pretty good right now.

Four new Civics are also available. From the unified Fire Cult to the fanatical Scorched World Heralds, the new cultures are again focused on fire. Harness the power of Living Metal or construct a Volcanic Forge to progress your civilization, but remember: always stay warm.

The new species have the Thermophilic trait, which allows them to thrive on hot planets. Instead of feeding your population food, they will consume small amounts of alloys. However, they'll suffer on Arctic worlds, so be careful where the edges of your empire lie.

The Stellaris Infernals Species Pack is available now. You can buy it on Steam here. Read the full blog post for more information.