10 Best 4X Games, Ranked (2024)

4X games have been around for ages, but they never managed to reach the same heights of popularity as other strategy sub-genres like RTS or grand strategy. Civilization is pretty much the only series of 4X games that managed to break into the mainstream, but we’re here to tell you that the genre has more to offer than just one series. A LOT more.

From alternate history sagas and medieval fantasy adventures to epic space operas, 4X games have a little something to offer for everyone. You’re guaranteed to find at least one title that’s right up your alley on this list regardless of whether you’re a newcomer to the genre or already a master of exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination.

10 Galactic Civilizations III

Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive (76%)

If you’re thinking of jumping into the Galactic Civilizations series we recommend avoiding the recently released fourth entry and sticking to the third one. At least for now. Galactic Civilizations III is the peak of the series and was seen as somewhat of a gold standard for space 4X games when it came out back in 2015. Although it has since been surpassed by newer titles, Galactic Civilizations III continues to be a game that deserves your attention.

One of the main things that sets Galactic Civilizations III apart from its peers is the nearly endless amount of customization options. While somewhat daunting at first, the game becomes surprisingly beginner-friendly once you spend a bit of time learning the core mechanics. The impressive variety of playable races and victory conditions are also particularly noteworthy, as is the sheer size of each map. Unfortunately, the quality of Galactic Civilizations III has degraded over time following a number of questionable DLC releases, however, the base game is still as solid as ever and worth checking out.

9 Age Of Wonders: Planetfall

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (80%)

Age of Wonders: Planetfall was Triumph Studios’ first – and, so far, only – attempt at moving away from fantasy in order to tackle sci-fi. The core gameplay is similar to what we’ve come to expect from a title developed by the studio, but there are some interesting additions that allow Planetfall to stand out from the crowd. There’s not quite enough innovation here to blow the minds of players who are already familiar with all the 4X tropes, however, that won’t stop you from appreciating the universe and breadth of quality content created by the developers.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a wonderful blend of classic 4X and turn-based tactical combat. Fans of XCOM 2 and Phoenix Point will immediately feel at home on Planetfall’s battlefields while fans of Civilization will have a field day as they build a planet-spanning empire. The blend of genres isn’t perfect, but Age of Wonders: Planetfall is still a solid title that will keep you entertained for many hours provided you’re willing to fork out some extra dough for the expansions.

8 Sins Of A Solar Empire: Rebellion

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (93%)

Normally, we would recommend starting with the base game before jumping into any post-launch content, but we’re making an exception just this once. For one, the original Sins of a Solar Empire is no longer available and has since been replaced by Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity. You can still get your hands on Trinity, but there’s little point in buying it when the standalone expansion, Rebellion, offers so much more. Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is bigger and better than previous versions and is considered the definitive edition of the game.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is a bit light on 4X elements compared to some of the other games on this list. The title plays more like an RTS that takes place on a massive scale, with some 4X DNA thrown into the mix to try to satisfy fans of both genres. There’s a huge emphasis on warfare in this one, but some of the other usual victory conditions, such as diplomatic and scientific, are present as well. Long-time 4X veterans may find Rebellion’s streamlined formula a bit dull but, at the same time, that very same formula makes this the perfect game for newcomers to the genre.

7 Old World

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (81%)

Old World is the best alternate history 4X game outside of the Civilization series. Some might argue that the game is actually better in some ways, and we’re not going to disagree with that. Old World is definitely better in terms of storytelling as that’s the main area where the game differentiates itself from Civ, choosing instead to draw inspiration from the likes of Crusader Kings. Although you’re still trying to build an empire from scratch in classic 4X fashion, you’ll often find yourself spending more time on forming political alliances, arranging marriages, and raising an heir.

Old World takes place on a relatively small scale, which is fairly unusual for a 4X game. These games are typically known for letting you conquer continents, planets, or even entire galaxies. Old World, on the other hand, takes place in and around the Mediterranean Sea. The timescale is equally more limited than you might expect from a game like this. But these limitations are very much intentional as the game wants you to take as much time as possible to familiarize yourself with your lands and its inhabitants. Old World is a game where choices matter, so the more you know about your kingdom, the better.

6 Endless Space 2

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (84%)

Endless Space 2 is arguably the best sci-fi 4X game out there. The game is simple enough to be accessible to newcomers while also having enough complexity and variety to satisfy even the most demanding 4X veterans. That sort of balance is difficult to achieve in this genre, but Amplitude Studios managed to pull it off by making sure that the learning curve is as smooth as possible. Instead of trying to encourage you to build a galactic empire from the get-go, Endless Space 2 lets you start small and gives you all the tools you need to work your way up at your own pace.

One of the things you’ll notice early on while playing Endless Space 2 is that the game has a cinematic quality that immediately draws you in. You can’t go more than a few minutes without stumbling across a beautiful piece of art or a pretty cutscene. The combat cutscenes are especially well-made, though it’s a bit of a shame that you’re essentially watching a movie instead of actively participating in the fight. That aside, Endless Space 2 is quite possibly one of the most immersive 4X games out there and there’s enough content here to keep you busy for months.

5 Sid Meier's Civilization 6

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (85%)

The latest entry in the long-running series is the most divisive of the bunch. On one hand, you’ve got the players who love the major new additions the game brought to the table, such as districts and policy changes. On the other hand, you’ve got those who feel like the game doesn’t do enough to push the franchise forward and that Civilization 6 lacks ambition. There are also heated debates still going on regarding the art style and 2K’s third-party launcher, which was introduced years after the game came out. In fairness, people are right to be upset about that last part.

But hate it or love it, there’s no denying that Civilization 6 is a solid game that contributed greatly to bringing the 4X genre into the mainstream. A lot of the decisions made by the publisher, including the launcher, the privacy policy, and most of the DLCs, are indeed questionable, but that doesn’t take anything away from the game itself. While not the most innovative game out there, Civilization 6 does enough to keep the series relevant to this day and has a lot to offer to newcomers and veterans alike.

4 Endless Legend

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (84%)

Made by the same folks who brought us Endless Space 2, Endless Legend is arguably an even better 4X game in spite of the fact that it takes place on a much smaller scale. In this case, the setting is Auriga, a weird and wonderful planet filled with various fantastical creatures and ancient civilizations vying for control of its resources. Much like its sci-fi counterpart, Endless Legend shines in the art department and offers a gorgeous map where danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

Endless Legend’s playable factions are easily one of the game’s main selling points. From Dust-infused knights known as the Broken Lords to the insectoid monstrosities that call themselves Necrophages, every faction is unique and fascinating in its own right. Even more interesting are the heroes leading these factions, who can be leveled up and customized like in an RPG. The combat is the only thing that drags the game down a couple of notches, but even that’s not all bad, just kind of dull.

3 Sid Meier's Civilization 4

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (92%)

Civilization 4 represented a massive upgrade over its predecessors and ended up becoming the gold standard that would inspire other 4X games for many years to come. A lot of the mechanics and systems we generally associate with the Civ series today were introduced here. Future titles tried to reiterate and improve the formula even more, but in some ways, Civilization 4 remains the peak of the series. And that’s probably not going to change anytime soon.

Much like many other old games, Civilization 4 can be difficult to run on modern systems. If you can get past the technical limitations and outdated graphics, we highly recommend giving Civ 4 a try if you haven’t already. The game came out during a time when 4X publishers weren’t trying to nickel and dime players, so you can get your hands on the complete edition of the game for dirt cheap. Not just that, but the extra content is actually worth playing. Again, this thing came out during a different time.

2 Age of Wonders 4

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (80%)

Age of Wonders 4 is a sequel done right and one of the best 4X games released in ages. Giving players all the tools they need to create custom factions was a stroke of genius by Amplitude Studios. While not unique to Age of Wonders 4, this feature was implemented here better than anywhereelse. Combine that with all the other customization options, both cosmetic and otherwise, and you’ve got a game with nearly endless replayability and a surprising amount of options for approaching each campaign.

Another thing Age of Wonders 4 does better than other 4X games is magic. The game features hundreds of different spells spread across several dozen Tomes of Magic, giving players an unparalleled amount of choice when it comes to spellcasting. You’ve also got things like mounts, a surprisingly solid combat system, two types of hero units, and a few other things you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find in a game like this. The jury’s still out when it comes to the post-launch content and support, but the base game is certainly worth checking out.

1 Sid Meier's Civilization 5

Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (96%)

Civilization 5 is the perfect entry point for players new to 4X games while also offering plenty of great content for seasoned veterans. The game sits in that mystical Goldilocks Zone where it has just enough complexity to keep you entertained without making you feel bogged down by some of the redundant systems introduced in the sequel. Don’t get us wrong, some of the new features introduced in Civ 6 are very good, but others should have been left on the cutting room floor.

The biggest change introduced by Civ 5 was the hex-based grid, and it’s a feature that was met with skepticism at first. However, once you get used to the grid it’s difficult to imagine ever going back to the previous system. Other features like City States, religion, espionage, naval combat, and more were also introduced or greatly expanded upon in Civilization 6. While Civ 4 laid much of the groundwork for the future of the series, Firaxis took all those ideas, polished them to a mirror shine, and added a few others on top in order to make Civilization 5 one of the best 4X games ever made.

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