1. United Empire. PERFECT. I love having influence be useful, having two currencies with which to buy out things is amazing, I like being able to build things and expand quickly, and in my opinion, they get to explore the game's mechanics the furthest.
2. Vodyani. PERFECT. I just love how the vampire theme comes through in the mechanics. Their aggressive playstyle feels unique and perfect as-is. Very focused design.
3. Lumeris. COHESIVE & FEELS GOOD. I really loved the Broken Lords in EL, and the dust focus makes them similar enough for me. Late-game feels great when your economic behemoth allows you to do so much. Buying outposts is a great advantage too.
4. Sophons. VANILLA, BUT STILL GOOD. They're alright, just kind of boring. Probably a good race to introduce someone to the game with, though.
5. Horatio. EHHHH. Maybe they'll be more fun at some point when certain bugs are worked out, but right now they are somewhere between boring and no fun at all for me to play. Shame, because I really like the design.
6. Cravers. FEELS BAD MAN. I can't seem to get these guys to work. They were a powerful force in ES1, but here they just feel like worse Vodyani on a clock. The advantages they get for their trade-offs of depletion aren't as tangible as the ones for Vodyani, maybe? At any rate, they don't feel good to play and can sputter out really easily if they have even one setback.

For endless space 2.

1. The horatio, they were my favorite faction in ES1 because while most sci fi games usually have races based on the same tropes, you know the smart but frail guys, the ravening horde that devours everything , the honorable warriors etc. the horatio were different something original a cult of personality a race born from narcissism   a guy just went "screw you guys im going to make my planets of mes " and he suceed i love the entire concept, also their ship designs are solid 10/10 for me and their new affinity is pure gold.

2. The sophons: they were pretty meh for me back in ES1 but their new trailer, their quests made me love them specially after my last game where while my ground troops were crap i were 2 eras ahead in the military tree so i love them right now the frail nerds with super huge ships its lovely.

3. The cravers: they were my second favorite race in ES1 because i always have a sweet spot for biomechanical horrors in videogames they get the third spot because they cant eat other factions and feel pretty uncraver for me maybe will get to 2nd or 1st after a few tweaks.

4. Vodyani: they are cool i love the whole fanatic xealots vibe and their ship designs are the best one, even better than horatio designs but i dont know i like to control planets not ships so they get spot 4. 

5. United empire: im not very fond of human factions and i was a bit dissapointed when they were revealed but after watching their trailer i was extremely hyped i actually enjoy them they occupy 5 but its more like 4 with the vodyani.

6. Lumeris : they are too humanlike for my taste.

1)  UE:  It is basically Russia in space.  I love it.  Heavy industry focus with good ships.  Influence is actually really useful for them.  So far, they are my best and favorite race.

2)  Vodyani:  I really like the uniqueness of their play-style.  Also, Space vampires!

3)  Horatio:  I love the gene splicing mechanic with the religious zealot aspect.  I think there needs to be some balancing done on the political mechanisms so religious is easier to maintain, and the faction itself still needs work.  BUT, they will end up being really great I think.

4)  Sophons:  A little vanilla, but science focuses and a fun lore theme.

5)  Lumeris:  Also a little vanilla, but fun to play.

6)  Cravers:  Haven't messed with them much, not into the idea of running my own colonies into the ground.  But might be fun if I actually played.

1. Vodyani - Unique play style, original lore and design. Amazing ship design, and heroes
2. Horatio - Second for it uniqueness. Really love the cloth design for the heroes and ships. Realy like the gene mechanic.
3. United Empire - Best intro video :) Not sure yet if i liked their unique game mechanic ( buy things with influence),  
4. Craver - Love their game mechanics in theory, but in game right now don´t feel like you are a space locust swarm ( kind off)
5. Lumeris - Ummmm don´t feel too unique. The only one that i didn´t like the ship design. Loved the heroes portrait though. Maybe with unique tech they can get some love 
6. Sophon - Too default for me. ( although i liked their ships). And there is no much point in being too advanced in technology when you have a industry botlleneck.

Horatio, he is the most beautiful and most wise being in our galaxy

he said he would splice me if i choose any other 

faction

1. The Unfallen, because duh!
2. The Vodyani - I like their aesthetics and gameplay style. Space vampires? Yes, please. 
3. The Next Faction to be revealed - Because ladldksfjeoiausd;lkfcvmn;sadjfhweiouf and aldsjfowiefuas;dlvncx,mnv;asdjhfoie
4. The Horatio - Love their gameplay mechanic of splicing genes and their ships look really awesome
5. Everyone else - The others don't really stand out to me like the above 4 do. The Cravers are at the top of this list, but only because I like their music. I wish the UE was less powerful and that the Lumeris felt more alien. 

My 2nd and 3rd choice are close to the 1st

1st place

United Empire: the theme is awesome. It is great they make influence useful and have a bonus to production. Production is my 1st priority in every 4x game

2nd

Horatio: I love the originality of the concept. It is good fun. Race itself is good. Overpopulation bonus are good and once you get some genes horatios are great. Good bonus to happiness.

3rd

Vodyani. Great concept and design. Start slow but get powerful. 

4th

Lumeris: the ability to buy planets allow for fast expansion theme is good. I dont usually like dust factions

5th

Sophons: I like science factions but sophons feel meh at the moment

6th

Cravers: I dont like neither the theme or the strategy. But I respect those who like them, design is interesting

DevildogFF wrote:

1. and that the Lumeris felt more alien. 

That's my only gripe with them. 

They're an aquatic race, they could look more like one.

I really like the look of the Lumeris. I think most people associate the Lumeris with the Mafia when they should instead be associating them with the merchant republics of Renaissance Italy (in particular Venice). They may look more humanoid than other races, but I see it more as a nod to classic sci-fi like Star Trek where the alien races are supposed to be surrogates for different historical cultures.

I also like the look of their ships. They have a good boiler-plate sci-fi look while also being noticeably geared towards shipping operations (what with the cranes and all).