Back again! We are going to shuffle around the days we do these discussion posts, if you're paying attention.
This week's topic is 4X games. 4X is a subgenre of strategy game that is defined by the "four Xs" that make up the genre name: EXplore, EXpand, EXploit and EXterminate. In these games you must explore surrounding territory, expand your empire or faction to claim it, exploit the resources found there, and exterminate other empires or factions. These games also sometimes feature auxiliary concepts like robust economy management, technology trees, and inter-faction diplomacy. Grand Strategy games are a subsubgenre (heh) under 4X that specifically involve an even larger and more detailed scope and often pit the player's faction against dozens of others, often times with an asymmetrical playing field.
Here are some questions and subtopics that I encourage people to discuss:
- What are your favorite 4X games?
- Which "X" of the 4X genre is your favorite?
- What setting/background do you prefer for 4X games?
- Do you enjoy Grand Strategy games, as a subgenre of 4X?
Also feel free to bring up anything you like related to the topic! If you have suggestions for future discussion topics, leave them in the suggestion thread.
Additional Resources
- List of 4X games from Wikipedia
- Grand Strategy & 4X tag on Steam
HoMM3 with WoG mod is a ton of fun. Songs of Conquest is 4X I believe. Also great fun.
I think EXplore is the big thing for me. The more incentive you have to explore, and the more content to be explored, the more enjoyable the game is.
I way prefer Sci-Fantasy, but it's a toss up between the Sci or the Fantasy.
I think Grand Strategy is where I'm at right now, and I tend to focus a lot of games in that area.
What is the smartest way to get into Stellaris right now? I'm waiting for the whole DLC package to get marked down in November or something like that. The Steam Workshop pretty much controls mods right now, so GoG isn't an option from what I've read.
For people who play Stellaris regularly, I recognize that the game has been less popular recently. Is there a specific reason for that?