2024X: A Golden Age of 4X

Many fans of the 4X genre refer back to the 90s as “the Golden Age of 4X”. It makes sense, as some of the greatest games ever made in the genre, such as Civilization 2, Master of Orion 1 and 2, Master of Magic, Colonization, and more, were released in the 1990s.

Those games are the pillars of the genre. They’ve influenced every single 4X game released since.

Then, about a decade ago, many started asking if we were on the verge of yet another 4X golden age, but Oliver argued against it (eXplorminate eXposition). Looking back, I’d disagree with Oliver, as some games of the 2010s were outstanding and have significantly affected the genre.

For example, games like Endless Legend, Endless Space 2, Stellaris, Civilization 6, and even the Stardrives have certainly influenced the future generations of 4X games. A few of them are still being updated and played today.

But now, in 2024X – yes, I’m coining this term and proud of it – I can’t help but consider that too many quality 4X games are being released not to revisit this Golden Age question. In the past few years, we’ve seen Age of Wonders 4, Old World, Distant Worlds 2 (getting better), Dune: Spice Wars, Master of Magic Reboot, Galactic Civilizations 4 (Supernova), Interstellar Space: Genesis, Imperiums: Greek Wars, Revival: Recolonization, Spellforce: Conquest of Eo, and even the hot and cold HUMANKIND, along the many expansions that have improved their base games.

With games like Ara: History Untold, Alliance of the Sacred Suns, Revival: Recolonization, Millennia, ZEPHON, Sins of a Solar Empire 2, and even more indie endeavors, like the revived Dominus Galaxia, Ataxia, or even the prehistoric 4X, Folk Emerging, are all likely to at least attempt new spins on the genre.

Even better, I’m also in the beta testing group for several unannounced 4X games that will undoubtedly excite our niche’s fans. One of these, I fully suspect, will be announced this year, and the rumors are already flying about it over at r/4Xgaming.

My main concern for the genre in 2023 was its somewhat formulaic approach to most of its entries. Players don’t need more of the same, only “flashier” and more user-friendly. We’ve had plenty of those games. We need to see more 4X games try to push the formula in new and exciting directions. To quote Star Trek, they must start “boldly going where no (4X game) has gone before.”

I see much of that in the 4X and grand strategy games of 2024: Alliance of the Sacred Suns will take macro management to a new level. Now billing itself as a “sci-fi grand-strategy RPG,” Alliance of the Sacred Suns looks to take the best elements of the 4X and grand strategy genres and marry them with a tasty RPG flavor. You’ll lead your empire and make decisions at the macro level, all while dropping those sweet, sweet attribute and skill points to make your emperor more capable. And the game looks so. much. better. than it did just a year or two ago.

Here’s hoping Steve and Kathawk games can get this one across the finish line in 2024X. Last we spoke to Steve on the podcast (eXplorminate podcast), he just radiates with passion and excitement for this project, so we know he and his small team will be up to the task. We’ll find out later this year!

Next, players will get their hands on Millennia (Steam Link) later this year, a historical 4X with plans to add alternative history ages to transform history as we know it. While it may not be quite the looker that some of the other games of this generation are, the alternative history paths that you can take, along with a more nuanced and deep economy model than most 4X games, might be enough to capture the imagination of most players. There is also a “National Spirits” mechanic that allows civilizations the opportunity to hone in their national focus every new Age of time, taking a page from HUMANKIND’s book while forgoing the whole “my entire civilization just changed its whole appearance and culture” effect that jarred many would-be fans of HUMANKIND.

Next, ZEPHON will push combat in 4X in ways only Proxy Studios has figured out. The developers of Warhammer 40K: Gladius – Relics of War (what a mouthful, still) are deep into their next project, free of the 40K license. While it still feels, looks, and plays pretty similarly to Gladius, the main differences will include three branching technology paths (Human, “Voice,” or Cyber), an “RPG-like” diplomacy system, distinct leader abilities, and more. You can already play the latest demo here: ZEPHON demo on Steam (Steam Link).

If ZEPHON can add to its already excellent Gladius formula (eXplorminate review) with what’s planned, there is no way it doesn’t offer a few dozen hours of 4X fun. I hope that they really lean into those “distinct leader abilities” that they advertise. That will significantly add to its replayability. And significantly add to my excitement for it. We’ll find out later this year, and I’m frothing at the bit to see the final product.

Revival: Recolonization (Steam Link) promises to be released into its “final” form in 2024X and is shaping into something special. You start in a post-apocalyptic world with only your emissary, some warriors, and a purpose. You’ll rebuild Earth to your liking, assimilating tribes along the way while fighting off other tribespeople, emissaries, and the All-Mind, a sentient group of robots hellbent on re-apocalypsing the Earth. No, that’s not a word, but I’m keeping it.

In doing so, you’ll manipulate the environment, bend the temperature and climate to your will, and progress through a unique tech tree full of stone age to futuristic technologies to unlock. Oh, and did I mention mammoths with artillery cannons on their back? I should have. You can command those in turn-based combat, which is both quick and exciting enough to keep you in the game. It’s a huge draw, in my opinion.

While already in Early Access, Revival: Recolonization is nearing its v1.0 with an “Emmisary Update.” It’s the last step on its Early Access roadmap, and after some time with it, aside from some more polish and quality of life improvements (I want to hide the district icons on the main map), I think asymmetric Emmisaries are all the game needs.

Want to see more? I took Revival: Recolonization for a spin recently here:

Ara: History Untold (Steam Link) is attempting to focus more on the city building and economic aspects of 4X, and in some exciting ways I’m not quite at liberty to talk about yet, which I know will help it stand out from other historical 4X games. It is easily my most-anticipated game of 2024X right now, as my time in the closed beta has only strengthened my opinion of it.

I cannot wait to wax poetic about this entry, but unfortunately, I’m currently NDA’d. The line between what I know of because I’m “behind the scenes” and what’s publicly available is a bit blurry, too, so I’ll leave you with a link to their dev journals (Steam Link). If you’re hopeful that they can improve the historical 4X genre and that a true competitor to Civilization can actually exist, I implore you to check out what’s going on with Ara: History Untold.

Speaking of Civilization, I can’t imagine a 2024X without AT THE VERY LEAST a Civilization 7 reveal. And I’m willing to bet we’ll get an actual release date and it may very well be coming later this year.

Others, like Sins of a Solar Empire 2, may not be pushing the genre boundaries, but we have faith that it’ll be a significant modernization of a game that’s already loved by so many. We’ll have a fully featured preview of it coming soon.

So yeah, in 2024X, we’re easily in the midst of a third 4X golden age. There are still plenty of great games to come, but we’ve already seen some great entries over the past few years.

Looking back, genre stalwarts like Old World, Age of Wonders 4, Galactic Civilizations 4, and even Spellforce: Conquest of Eo and Dune: Spice Wars, have, um, spiced the formula or improved upon it enough to alter the course of 4X history, hopefully.

Old World, as you know, introduced characters, a la Crusader Kings, and it turns out that the 4X formula can make room for moderately deep character development. Age of Wonders 4 introduced the Pantheon system, encouraging players to finish their games to unlock new cosmetics, map types, and even more. Galactic Civilizations 4 has introduced a colony/core world system wherein you only manage a few planets worthy of your time while the others feed their resources to the nearest core world.

Spellforce: Conquest of Eo is more RPG than 4X, but the combination of the elements of a game like Kings Bounty, mixed with lite-4X elements where you have a sphere of influence and a “home city” (read: mage’s tower) that gobbles up local, finite resources made for an exciting game. We hope to see more content for it in the future.

Finally, Dune: Spice Wars has depths that are not easily uncovered, but the more you learn, the more obvious its exciting variety of strategies are revealed. We think it’ll receive a lot of support, as Northgard still gets DLC to this day, so its life is likely just beginning.

Aaron has a profoundly deep dive on Dune: Spice Wars coming soon, so stay tuned.

You can read our review of Old World here. Our review of Age of Wonders 4 is here.

Our review of Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova is nearing completion, too. I hope to have it in your eyeballs before too long. It’s a deep game, and the hard work Stardock has put into it is evident across the board.

So rejoice, my friends, as we’re experiencing another 4X renaissance. Whether or not the games released already or coming soon will survive the testament of time or change the course of 4X history is yet to be seen. However, there are some extremely solid examples of the genre out in the wild right now, and, as they often do, most of them will only get better with age (and DLC).

Are you in agreement? Or do you wish to air your grievances? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Until next time, 4X and Grand Strategy fans, keep eXploring!

Rob Honaker

Rob founded eXplorminate in 2014 as his passion for 4X needed an outlet. You can find Rob in just about every 4X game beta and 4X game forum, too. He’s equally obsessed with the strategy and tactics genres and constantly combs the internet for new and exciting titles in those genres. He’s proud to be a member of Amplitude Studios’ VIP program and the concept creator of Endless Space 2’s Unfallen.