The year is 2225. The reckless humans have formed a coalition to defend themselves from the rising power of the evil Drengin Empire.

Meanwhile, the Drengin Empire has gathered together an alliance of their own and has begun searching the darkest places in the galaxy for ancient technologies to give them an upper hand. But as they will all soon learn, there are far worse things in the universe...than each other...

Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords is a PC strategy game in which the players take on the role of leader of a space-faring civilization. Players direct their civilization's military, colonize planets, establish trade routes, fight wars, research new technologies, sign treaties, build up their planet's industry and economy, and ultimately battle to control the galaxy.