Getting into 4X

[Daffius]

I've been reading the DDs and comments and I'm going to give Stellaris a try. Mainly because I like Pdx games in general (although I'm more of a history nerd).

Anyway, I've never been interested in space that much and never played a 4X game before (had to google 4x).
So, as preparation I've decided to give the genre a try, but boy oh boy are there lots of them out there.

Warning: question incoming. Which space game would you suggest if you could only choose one?

Criterias:
1) I love options and complexity, so nothing really dumbed down just because I'm a space newb
2) I don't care much for graphics, anything at least decent will do
3) Something similar to what Stellaris might feel like (no star wars or mass effect type rpg)
4) Single player only (I'm not into multiplayer)

 

[The Dark Warmonger]

Hey yeah I've played quite a few 4x games and I think you can't go past distant worlds universe for just sheer enormity and greatness price is a bit much but still totally worth it

 

[DeveronMagi]

best 4x game i played in rrecent history is Sword of the Stars 1 (with all addons)

 

[Newberg]

Sword of the Stars seconded, but would also mention Sins of a Solar Empire (with rebellion) as a great option if you want to try real time 4x. (also there are some great mods for it

 

[ariantes]

I would try Endless Space. While it has some problems, all in all it is quite good. If non scifi, try Civilization, either Civ4 or Civ5 are fine.

 

[Torgrim]

Distant worlds universe is by far the best x4 ever made, only sapce x4 to date that delivers a breathing living universe.

 

[Andarni]

Distant Worlds by far is the best 4X out there at the moment.

 

[Daffius]

So either distance worlds or sword of stars.

 

[Iche_Bins]

So either distance worlds or sword of stars.

Yep ^^

 

[Daffius]

Fair enough. Sold. Distant worlds it is. Thanks everyone.

 

[fabius]

Fair enough. Sold. Distant worlds it is. Thanks everyone.

Never fully got into DW, but apparently most advice some kind of (Ice man's ???) AI mod. Think it does stuff like get your AI to auto update to better ships.

 

[Safehold]

Sword of the stars 1 (not 2, avoid 2 like the plague). The Last Federation (or AI Wars, but Last Fed is easier to learn).

Distant Worlds is also pretty deep, although somewhat micro intensive on the economic side. The scenarios and timeline makes for different campaigns.

Sins of a Solar Empire is very fun if you like micro managing spaceship battles, with a simpler economy. There's not a lot of backstory or story to it, except the ones fans and other people write up.

The Last Federation is less like a 4x and more like a paradox game, real time with pause, turn based combat. More simulation with real time and pause. Sots1 is real time in battle with pause, turn based strategy on map; it also has different FTL modes like Stellaris will have. Sins is real time pause.

I preferred science fiction settings, and avoided Paradox's games, until I decided to try Crusader Kings 2.

As for games like Stellaris, I replayed the old Alien Legacy game on cd, and it's still good, nostalgia aside.

 

[Bluekkis]

If you don't mind digging deeper into genre, I would suggest taking a look into Master of Orion 2. It is the grandfather of the genre and still my favorite. Not very complex on todays standard, but contains many features that modern games sadly have dismissed. Mainly tactical combat and associated ship designing.

 

[Meraun]

iam ashmed to say it, but Distant Worlds looks actually to bad for me to play... Even if i'am not a Graphic guy (i mean i play paradox games)

 

[Sapidianus]

iam ashmed to say it, but Distant Worlds looks actually to bad for me to play... Even if i'am not a Graphic guy (i mean i play paradox games)

Actually Paradox games have superb graphics compared to other real-time grand strategies.

 

[ponasozis]

iam ashmed to say it, but Distant Worlds looks actually to bad for me to play... Even if i'am not a Graphic guy (i mean i play paradox games)

paradox games look amazing compared to most other good big scale strategy games
the hell you talking about ?

 

[CptWilly]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the GalCiv franchise... For its flaws (see late game constructor conga-lines), it is still a supurb example of the genre on a massive scale with graphics that are not a hinderance to the experience.

 

[AKicebear]

iam ashmed to say it, but Distant Worlds looks actually to bad for me to play... Even if i'am not a Graphic guy (i mean i play paradox games)

There are a few mods which improve Distant Worlds aesthetic considerably. Not perfect, but a big improvement.

 

[Meraun]

Actually Paradox games have superb graphics compared to other real-time grand strategies.

Well i moved from Total War to Paradox

On the other hand TW is not Grand strategy... or nor that big

 

[Safehold]

Well i moved from Total War to Paradox

On the other hand TW is not Grand strategy... or nor that big

Total War Rome Barbarorum fan mod, was like Grand tactics though. And reading various unit biographies was pretty fun (they were long). I think if history used simulations to expose people to the topic, people wouldn't find it as boring as they do reading an indoctrinated text book.