There are 8 playable races in StarDrive. Each race has "physical", "sociological", and "history and tradition" traits which give them various bonuses (and penalties). These traits (along with unique ship designs) provide each race with a different feel and play style.
The Cordrazine are mind-controlling molluscs from Cordron Ot in the Cordron system. They have enslaved the gentle Owlwok race.
The deceptive and alluring Drayloks evolved on the planet of Drellok in the Drell system. Their government is the Draylok Council.
The Humans are a species of mammals who come from Earth in the Sol system, and their government is called the United Federation.
The Kulrathi are a bear-like race of warrior-poets hailing from Tor in the Rathi system. Their empire is known as the Kulrathi Shogunate.
The Opteris are a race of cybernetic beings resembling insects, linked in a hive-mind, who hail from Zero in the Opteris system.
The strange, plant-like Pollops hail from the jungle world of Sporl in the Polmar system, where the suns are warm and the soil is deep.
The Ralyeh are highly religious, warlike cephalopods from the Kolthar system, where their homeworld Tholar is.
The savage Vulfen fly under the flag of the Vulfen Imperium, which is centered on the planet Vulfar in the Vater system.