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Summary
4X games make for some of most complex experiences a gamer can experience.
What Are 4X Games Anyway?
If you’ve ever played titles likeSid Meier’s CivilizationorStellaris, you’ve played a 4X game.
The 4X’s in the genre stands for “eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate.”
It could have easily been named 4E games, but that just sounds like aforgotten Dungeons and Dragons expansion.
No, these games are an experience all on their own.
During the earliest days of computer gaming, 4X games were among the most popular titles.
you could experience the charm of the originalCivby playingFreeciv, anopen-source version of the original gamein your internet tool.
Fast-forward to the early 21st century, and we’ve seen a of technological advancement.
Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek | Steam
Unfortunately, this hasn’t carried over to the development of newer 4X games to satisfy the masses.
Why Do 4X Games Matter in 2024?
Why do I love 4X games so much?
Jerome Thomas / How-To Geek
These games reward long-term planning over the quick dopamine rush of modern pick-up-and-play games.
They require investment and understanding, but they reward players with long-term enjoyment.
It’s no secret that the genre can be intimidating.
Jerome Thomas / How-To Geek
In an age ofplentiful free-to-play online shooters, 4X games can easily be overlooked.
Recent research has shown thatfewer gamers are interested in the nuances of deep strategy titles.
Well-known games such asXCOMand theEndlessseries see fewer people picking them up and playing them.
According to the study, this is because fewer gamers are interested in longtail gameplay.
Is It Too Late to Get Into 4X Gaming?
Humankinddiffers slightly fromCivilization VIsince itwas designed to improve upon the latter.
Many concepts are the same, but significant differences exist for it to stand out as a game.
Both titles are historically based civilization-builder games, with leaders defining how those civilizations grow.
But what about games for science fiction fans?
Endless SpaceandStellarisare both great options for players who want to see how a futuristic 4X game plays.
However, these games aren’t for the faint of heart.
Their complexity is very rewarding, though.
Few things are as awesome as annihilating an entire enemy fleet.
While many of those games have their own themes, a few basic things apply to all of them.
Individual games have their own nuances, and learning those nuances is part of learning the game.
What Does The Future of 4X Games Look Like?
The future for these games is bright, and now’s a good time to explore them.
Indie developers are also working on 4X games, some of which have entered early access.
Games likeBurned LandandAstro4Xoffer unique gameplay and brand-new mechanics to the idea of turn-based strategy alongside the 4X formula.
