Talk:List of 4X video games

Imperium Galactum

TThe 4X game Imperium Galactum (SSI, 1984) is listed as needing a citation. I don't know how to do that but here are necessary links if someone else could take care of it. Thanks in advance. http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/boxes/hi_res/imperium_galactum_d7.jpg http://www.mobygames.com/game/imperium-galactum https://www.giantbomb.com/imperium-galactum/3030-1556/ 71.35.127.126 (talk) 19:50, 29 March 2018 (UTC)

I added it back to the list (my first WIKI edit!). Agreed with your citation and having played it, this is definitely a pure 4X game. 2604:3D09:1F75:F520:2DDE:82B8:EA2E:A10F (talk) 21:50, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

HoMM

I notice that the Heroes of Might and Magic series is listed, but they are omitted in the 4X article. Should they be removed? SharkD (talk) 06:17, 17 January 2009 (UTC)

I don't think so, HoMM series was sort of like a 4x-lite. Doesn't have the complex micromanagement of empires and diplomacy as other 4X games but it definitely has a lot of traits. Research is done through leveling up (such as getting more powerful spells), and all 4 X's are definitely there.

On the other hand, I've removed Age of Empire games from the list. They are not a 4X at all, they are pure RTS games. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.55.4.138 (talk) 03:22, 9 July 2009 (UTC)

Rise of Nations

Rise of Nations and the expansion Thrones and Patriots has a complex tech tree, resource management system, displomacy, taxation in addition to military aspects. Military might is one part of the game, as there are many other way to win a game. Should it be included? 12.213.80.54 (talk) 06:19, 9 December 2009 (UTC)

in my mind, absolutely. Mathmo ^Talk 15:07, 11 September 2010 (UTC)

Empire

As discussed here, Empire games (with the exception of Enhanced Edition), while inspiring the 4X genre, lack the necessary characteristics to be counted as one, and as such unless anyone objects I will remove them from this list. 194.80.178.253 (talk) 21:46, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

Veni Vidi Vici

I remember playing this 4X game back in the 90's, don't know too much about it, but it would be great if someone could find out when it was released and add it to the list. It was a space game where you started out as the last human and you had to recreate humanity on Earth, then explore the universe for other habitable planets and eventually conquer the galaxy. --70.101.18.190 (talk) 20:43, 16 January 2011 (UTC)

Deadlock: Planetary Conquest

Plays a lot like a faster Civilization 2 with fun to watch combat. Should be added. Luckz (talk) 05:37, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Added - article has been there for a long time Rescendent (talk) 09:25, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

AI War: Fleet Command

AI War is pretty much a 4X game mixed with tower defense. It's even listed in the according article as a blend of 4X, RTS and Tower Defense. It features a (simple) tech tree, exploration is extremely important, as well as expandation and extermination. The play style is very similar to typical 4X games. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.193.142.252 (talk) 20:00, 22 March 2012 (UTC)

Star Ruler

Star ruler is listed as having disputed status. I am uncertain why however, as it has all the required elements of a 4x game: Research, Colonization, Economy management, Exploration, Diplomacy (lite), and Combat. What else is necessary to indicate that a game meets the criteria of the 4x genre? -- MyrddinE (talk) 00:56, 13 August 2012 (UTC)

• agree (Idot (talk) 02:58, 13 August 2012 (UTC))

Horizon

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/236130/ BlueTemplar (talk) 19:59, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/259060/ BlueTemplar (talk) 19:59, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

AI War: Fleet Command

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/40400/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Armada 2526

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/229970/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Eador: Genesis

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/235660/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Eador: Masters of the Broken World

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/232050/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Warlock II: The Exiled

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/205990/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Distant Worlds: Universe

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/261470/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Galactic Civilizations™ III

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/226860/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

The Last Federation

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/273070/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Grand Ages: Rome

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/23450/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Conquest of Elysium 3

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/211900/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Gemini Wars

Lacking this entry. http://store.steampowered.com/app/216130/ BlueTemplar (talk) 20:49, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Total War Games aren't 4x

Why is the Total War series listed as 4X if the eXploration aspect is missing form most games of the series. There is no eXploration in Shogun 1+2, Medieval, Rome 2, Empire, Napoleon and Attila. With Shogun 2 they started to use a Map like texture to hide not yet seen land. But the map already includes all important information (borders mountains cities etc). It's only eye candy.

Only Rome and Medieval 2 have a exploration aspect. In those two games you could not see cities without eXporation. --95.91.202.126 (talk) 14:15, 17 March 2016 (UTC)

There most certainly is exploration in the Total War series. You need to explore the map to know who sits where and what their strongholds and armies are like. Without this exploration of the map, you are not marching your armies efficiently but into a blind death. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.238.103.145 (talk) 14:42, 2 January 2018 (UTC)

Yeah, if this is exploration, then every game with FOW is exploration. It's not really a 4x game. (also, europa universalis and some other games used to be on this list, if they're removed, so should total war). Benjamintf1 (talk) 01:14, 21 May 2021 (UTC)

Loose usage of 4X 'status'

There's quite a few games on this list that have clearly been given the 4X status based on extremely loose definitions. Titles such as Empire Earth, Heroes of Might & Magic and the above mentioned Total War series aren't 4X simply because they happen to have some exploration or some upgrade mechanics otherwise there are a metric ton of games that you can simply say "why isn't this here?". Warcraft 3, StarCraft 2, Blue Byte's Settlers series, Northgard, even stuff like War For The Overworld; if you stretch the 4X definition in the same way as some of the games on this list all of these could easily be justified for addition too where usually nobody would even think of them as anything other than standard RTS games. Ƒϰɑϯє (talk) 20:14, 5 May 2020 (UTC)

Removed games that need a citation

This article was a complete mess. I rewrote the lead, cited most of the entries, and removed a bunch of games that I couldn't verify. Here's a possibly incomplete list of stuff that I removed:

Year	Game	Developer	Setting	Platform	Notes
1984	Strategic Conquest	Peter Merrill	Historical	APPII, MAC
1984	Imperium Galactum	SSI	Sci-fi (Space)	APPII, ATR, C64
1984	Incunabula	Avalon Hill	Historical	DOS	Based on Avalon Hill's board game, Civilization.
1984	Trade Wars	Chris Sherrick	Sci-fi (Space)	DOS	Text-based BBS door game of space exploration, empire building and conquest, partially inspired by Risk.
1987	Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021	Thinking Machine	Sci-fi (Space)	DOS
1987	Xconq	Various	Historical, Fantasy or Sci-fi (Planet)	MULTIPLATFORM	A strategy game engine hosting multiple fan-made game modules.
1987	Strategic Conquest II	Peter Merrill	Historical	APPII, MAC	Sequel to Strategic Conquest.
1987	Tradewars 2002	Gary & MaryAnn Martin and John Pritchett	Sci-fi (Space)	DOS, WIN	Recognized as the first multiplayer space trader, TW2002 included all elements of a 4X game.
1989	Warlords	SSG	Fantasy	AMI, DOS	First title in the series.
1989	Millennium 2.2	Electric Dreams	Sci-fi (Space)	AMI, DOS, ST
1990	Khalaan	Chip	Fantasy	AMI, ST, DOS	, AMI
1990	Centurion: Defender of Rome	Bits of Magic	Historical	DOS, AMI, GEN
1992	Pax Imperia	Changeling Software	Sci-fi (Space)	MAC
1993	Warlords II	SSG	Fantasy	DOS	Sequel to Warlords.
1993	Merchant Prince	Holistic QQP	Historical	DOS	Also supported randomized maps
1993	When Two Worlds War	Impressions Games	Sci-fi (Space)	AMI, DOS
1994	Hammer of the Gods	Holistic	Fantasy	DOS	Norse mythology within a mostly historical setting
1994	Lords of the Realm	Impressions Games	Historical	WIN, AMI
1995	Machiavelli the Prince	Holistic MicroProse	Historical	DOS	Improved version of Merchant Prince
1995	Age of Discovery	Email Games	Historical	PBEM, WIN	Alternate version of Global Diplomacy with randomized maps.
1996	Deadlock: Planetary Conquest	Accolade (company)	Sci-fi (Planet)	MAC, WIN
1996	Destiny: World Domination Stone Age to Space Age	Interactive Magic	Historical	WIN
1996	Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars	New World	Fantasy	WIN, MAC, ROS, GBC	Sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest.
1996	Lords of the Realm II	Impressions Games	Historical	WIN, MAC	Sequel to Lords of the Realm.
1997	Into the Void	Adrenalin Entertainment	Sci-fi (Space)	DOS
1997	Lords of Magic	Impressions	Fantasy	WIN9X
1997	Pax Imperia Eminent Domain	Heliotrope	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN, MAC
1997	Tone Rebellion, The	The Logic Factory	Sci-fi (Planet)	WIN
1997	Warlords III: Reign of Heroes	SSG	Fantasy	WIN	Sequel to Warlords II.
1999	Disciples: Sacred Lands	Strategy First	Fantasy	WIN	First title in the series.
1999	Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia	New World	Fantasy	DC, LIN, MAC, WIN	Sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars.
2001	Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the Dragon Bone Staff	New World	Fantasy	PS2	Spin-off of the Heroes of Might and Magic series.
2001	Empire Earth	Stainless Steel Studios	Historical	WIN
2002	Disciples II: Dark Prophecy	Strategy First	Fantasy	WIN	Sequel to Disciples: Sacred Lands.
2002	Haegemonia: Legions of Iron	Digital Reality	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN
2002	Heroes of Might and Magic IV	New World	Fantasy	WIN	Sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia.
2002	Medieval: Total War	Creative Assembly	Historical	WIN	Sequel to Shogun: Total War.
2003	Space Merchants: Conquerors	Playito	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN
2003	Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria	Infinite	Fantasy	WIN	Sequel to Warlords III: Darklords Rising.
2004	Anacreon: Imperial Conquest in the Far Future	George Moromisato	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN	Remake of Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021.
2004	Lords of the Realm III	Impressions Games	Historical	WIN	Sequel to Lords of the Realm II.
2004	Rome: Total War	Creative Assembly	Historical	WIN, OSX	Sequel to Medieval: Total War.
2004	Strength & Honour	Magitech	Historical	WIN
2005	Empire Earth II	Mad Doc Software	Historical and Sci-fi (Planet)	WIN	Sequel to Empire Earth.
2006	Heroes of Might and Magic V	Nival	Fantasy	WIN, OSX	Sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic IV.
2006	Medieval II: Total War	Creative Assembly	Historical	WIN	Sequel to Rome: Total War and Medieval: Total War.
2007	Empire Earth III	Mad Doc Software	Historical and Sci-fi (Planet)	WIN	Sequel to Empire Earth II.
2009	Empire: Total War	Creative Assembly	Historical	WIN	Fifth in the Total War series.
2009	Disciples III: Renaissance	Akella	Fantasy	WIN	Sequel to Disciples II: Dark Prophecy.
2009	Mayhem Intergalactic	Inventive Dingo	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN	Turn-based, streamlined.
2010	Conquest: Divide and Conquer	Proxy Studios	Sci-fi (Planet)	WIN, OSX, LIN	Simultaneously executed turn-based tactical combat game placed in a dark and distant future.
2010	Napoleon: Total War	Creative Assembly	Historical	WIN	Sixth in Total War series.
2010	Distant Stars (videogame)	Expat Games	Sci-fi (Space)	iPad	Turn-based, streamlined.
2010	Neptune's Pride	Iron Helmet Games	Sci-fi (Space)	BROW	Real-time
2011	Illyriad	Illyriad	Fantasy	BROW	Real-time
2011	Might & Magic: Heroes VI	BlackHole	Fantasy	WIN	Turn-based. Sequel to Heroes of Might and Magic V.
2014	The Last Federation	Arcen Games	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN
2014	Golden Age of Civilizations	GACIVS	Historical and Sci-fi (Planet)	MULTIPLATFORM	Based on FreeCiv
2015	Gates of Horizon	Hex Keep	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN, OSX, LIN
2016	Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII	Koei Games	HistoricalXOne	Part of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, play as an individual during the three kingdoms era in China.
2017	Crisis in the Kremlin	Kremlingames	Historical	WIN, OSX, LIN	Turn-based strategy game, remake of Crisis in the Kremlin (1991)
2019	Burned Land	Koya Game	Fantasy	WIN	4X Turn-based strategy game.
2020	Solaris	Open Source	Sci-fi (Space)	BROW	4X real-time and turn-based strategy game with tactical elements.
2021	Tachyon Wars	Fair Games	Sci-fi (Space)	WIN	4X real-time strategy game with emphasis on online gameplay.

Some of them could be 4X games, but there doesn't seem to be any coverage in reliable sources saying so. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 21:46, 1 April 2022 (UTC)