OMG All you 4X Lovers out there.

Are you seeing my eyes right now. The discount for 4X/strategy games is through the roof. Warhammer $5. I just bought Frostpunk for $6 even though its not 4x but its giving me those vibes. But been checking others Old world man its so cheap. Already own AOW4 bought that cheap on Github. While Steam is blessing our souls right now. Get those 4X you dream. :)

Sale, Sale, Sale

I'm a dev looking into creating a 4x game and was wondering what genre fans thought about games that take a smaller scale approach.

I'd love to make a 4x cross with core fire emblem mechanics (weapon triangle, terrain bonuses in combat), but am wondering about the viability of the concept.

4x would take place much like age of wonders (and many other games) where cities produce units, and city upgrades produce higher tier units. Other structures give turn-based resources or one time gains (defeat the dragons den, get lump sum of gold). Other factions are doing the same as you, and independents have their own AI to defend POIs, roam, ravage, etc.

I know making a prototype/proof of concept would be best for figuring out if this is viable, but though just a generic question might also garner some initial feedback on the idea.

So, i like Civ 6 and i like ''eye candy'' games so no old game (nothing from 200X or something). I'm more a grand strategy player (CK3 is my comfy option) and i would keep playing Stellaris but the DLC hell is too strong.

I'm a long time fan from the Endless Saga (Space and Legend).

I usually don't like conquest victories and i do like more the ''play tall'' style (i hate CK3 map painting). I really like the Stellaris combat (not the combat but design the ships and just auto everything - no micro, just the pleasure of the visual simulation). I know ARA have something like.

So, the question: for someone that like ''non conquest victories'' and plenty of civ customization, wich one is the the best? Or i'm missing another game with this kind of features?

And i dont like Old World. I dont really know why just dont ''click''.

I'm going to have some free time in the upcoming weeks, and want to try one of these games in depth.

I played about 200 hrs of Stellaris about 5 or so yearsago. Thought it was good but not great, but have heard that its improved since then.

I played about 20 hrs of DW2 and it didnt click. But have also heard this one has improved greatly.

So which should I sink my teeth into?

Also, and good Lets play for the current version?

Thands!

HI, Is there any MMO 4X/grand strategy/RTS game(like rise of kingdoms/call of dragons etc for pc/mobile anything) which has a pvp game mode which gives rewards/resources ( which can be used to upgrade my strength directly/indirectly) and can be done 24/7 anymuch i want, any no of time and i can use my main upgraded army in it? Also i should be able to see the battles like armies fighting on real time not just some calculation without any animation and winner declared. It should have permanent progression like i can upgrade my units/hero/skills/gears etc and those upgrades carry over to next pvp matches. also has large open world map where i can see other players' city/castle. also has kingdom vs kingdom or faction vs faction etc like group pvp. Also hoping there's no server wipes but if it happens how frequently is it and which progessions dont get deleted during wipe?

I know they're different 4X subgenres but I just want to know which is more fun.

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I noticed it is easier to just sit in my town, improving it and just build up my army there instead of venturing out and exploring, risking using my troops with random enemy NPCs. It is not a fun way to play but seems to be the best to win? Just let AI kill each other then attack the last one standing.
Is there any way to make it more rewarding to explore and attack other factions?
I only know of Total War which reduce unit effectiveness if they stay inactive for too long.

Hi everyone!
I’m a Master's student in Communication at Università Cattolica in Milan. For my thesis, I’m conducting research on strategy games (particularly RTS, TBS, and 4X wargames), focusing on how they depict war and how players perceive them.
To gather data, I’ve created an anonymous survey that takes about 5 minutes to complete (around 10 questions). It would be amazing to get input from passionate gamers like you!
Thank you in advance for your time and attention. Here’s the link to the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSZB61c9zO2mwL6hR1IoYtqF76QwfPAKW2O637OesMcsX0hg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thanks a lot!

Which of the two would you recommend for the best Civ experience?

I really want something where the AI can keep up in the lategame and can hold you to stalemates like in Shadow Empire.

Effective the title. Also, how do you go about finding upcoming games that fit this genre? It seems very difficult to find what is upcoming or in beta. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I used to be an avid 4X player, but haven't played anything for the last 5 years or so. Now I have some free time, and would like to pick a newer sci-fi themed game.

Here are some features I want to have in a 4X game:
Heavy focus on economics, technology, and peaceful expansion. I do like good warfare, but prefer to get there once I have a strong economy and technological superiority (think of playing Civ and using tanks when everyone else is stuck with cavalry).
Interesting and unique races and setting. Not mandatory, but it's nice when different races have a unique feel to them, not just minor starting bonuses.
A good balance between complexity and micromanagement. I enjoy complex mechanics, but I want to have an ability to streamline certain things, instead of micromanaging every little bit.

Some things I have played in the past:

Civilization (played from the 3-5): not a space-themed 4X, but it's one of my favorite titles and I enjoy how it manages expansion, tech, building Wonders, and diplomacy.
Stellaris (played it up to Utopia): Wondering if I should get more DLCs and give it a try now. Overall, I enjoyed it greatly, though it was a bit bland at times with not enough difference between the races.
Distant Worlds (the first one): Really liked it back in the day, lots of good features and Shakturi were awesome, but it required a tad too much micromanagement, especially with fleets.
Endless Space (the first one): Endless Legend is probably my top 3 4X, but I didn't enjoy Endless Space that much. The races were cool, but overall gameplay was somewhat lacking.
Gal Civ (2 and 3): Overall a good game with some nice mechanics, but I always felt like a 7/10 game - nice to play, but the alternatives were always better.
Master of Orion 2 (the original one): Great for its time, but too outdated for my tastes.

I'd appreciate any recommendations since I don't want to jump in blindly and buy half a dozen new titles only to abandon 80% of them.

So I've been playing galciv 4 for some time now and I wondered...is there a way to truly terraform planets, aka change their type? Lets say I have a civilization that really likes ocean planets, am I just limited to the amount that the game gives or can I terraform others into them?

I looked at some older posts so I should clarify what I mean.

I know sometimes people are talking about historic realism and that is ok but not really necessary. I want the mechanics to be realistic, so like when I played Rome 2 there was a mod called dei which added realistic logistics and population mechanics to the game. I want basically that but for anything 4x-y. I like civ a lot played 4 and 6 but it is obviously kinda accelerated to be more fun. I think I am going to buy Victoria 3 here cause it's on sale and it seems to fit this category. It seems like there are a lot of little things to manage and it's very complex, I don't really know how realistic they are but it seems kind of in line with what I want. Maybe I want more micro? But ideally realistic micro.

I saw also people say grand strategy falls in this category. I think that's true? Although I have never tried one of those. I am open to suggestion in that realm as well. I do wish though it seems with both grand strategy and victoria that they are locked to time periods which is a bit of bummer.

Edit: I am open to more than 4x. I just don't know where to look. These genres are all a bit similar to me. Like I know total war games aren't 4x but to me it feels similar.

Hey fellow space game enthusiasts,
I’ve been on the hunt for a 4X space game that can truly capture the feeling I got from X4 Foundations and Elite Dangerous. There’s this indescribable “itch” I’m chasing—maybe it’s the depth, freedom, or the combination of exploration, management, and immersion.

I’ve already tried some great games like Terra Invicta, Distant Worlds 2, Stellaris, and Galactic Civilizations 4, but none of them quite hit the mark for me. While they all have their strengths, I’m looking for something that combines:

• Immersive Space Sim Elements: I loved piloting my own ship, managing fleets, and building a space empire in X4.
• Deep Strategic Gameplay: The decisions I make should feel impactful, whether I’m managing an economy or engaging in battles.
• Exploration and Freedom: I want to feel like the galaxy is my playground, full of secrets, challenges, and opportunities.
• Player-Driven Narratives: Games where I can create my own story, whether it’s as a trader, pirate, or empire-builder.

Does anyone know a game that might scratch this itch? Bonus points if it has a steep learning curve or systems that reward diving deep. I’m open to indie titles or hidden gems too. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! 🚀

Thanks in advance!

Good afternoon, r/4Xgaming community!

I’m a solo developer working on an open-world RTS game with 4X elements, playable directly in your browser. The game combines exploration, expansion, resource management, and large-scale strategy in a persistent online world where players compete for dominance. It’s still in early development, and I’d love for experienced 4X enthusiasts to help test, provide feedback, and help shape its future.

Game Highlights:

• Persistent gameplay: The world evolves continuously—even while you’re offline. Your territory and resources must be defended or expanded strategically.
• Open-world RTS mechanics: Players explore, claim resources, build units, and vie for control of territories in a shared online map with traditional RTS unit micro control.
• No unit cap (for now): Players can grow their forces without restriction, though performance currently degrades after ~500 units.

Technical Details:

• Developed using JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3, tested on Ubuntu 23.04.
• Compatible with Edge and Chromium-based browsers.
• Hosted on a Dockerized Ubuntu 23.04 server on Linode.

Testing Goals:

1. Stress test gameplay: How does the game handle with 20+ players competing simultaneously? Performance feedback is crucial, especially regarding lag or bottlenecks during large-scale battles.
2. Gameplay feedback: Does it capture the spirit of 4X strategy? Are there features you'd like to see improved or added?

Known Issues:

• Performance decreases significantly with large unit counts, especially above 500.
• Chromium-based browsers currently perform better than others.

How You Can Get Involved:

If you’re passionate about 4X games and want to help shape the next big thing in the genre, please send me a chat. I’ll provide access details and areas where feedback is most valuable. Bug reports, recommendations, and any gameplay suggestions are all welcome!

Your contributions will be invaluable in refining this game and ensuring it delivers a compelling 4X experience. Thank you for considering this, and I look forward to hearing from you!

As the title says, with both games currently on sale I'm considering getting one or the other but not both, so which one do you recommend?

Hey fellow 4X fans,

Millennia has been out for a little while now, and I’m curious to hear what everyone thinks. After all the pre-release hype, about its approach to time periods, adaptable tech trees, and civ evolution, do you feel like it delivered?