Grand Strategy Best space 4X

[Wulfric Pinewood]

Distant Worlds 2 incoming will be a beast just look at webpage at Steam.

 

[adddeed]

Imperium Galactica 2 and its not even close.

 

[Dyspaire]

Imperium Galactica 2 and its not even close.

Now this is a game I've been aware of for years, and yet never tried.

I've heard good things. Can you sell me on it a bit?

 

[luj1]

Imperium Galactica 2 and its not even close.

its very close, a lot of these games kick ass

 

[Max Damage]

Voted Imprerium Galactica 2 because that's the one I remember playing and enjoying the most, MoO 2 I remember getting voted into victory despite doing basically nothing to earn it (from my point of view). Also, poll has MoO 2 but not first one, then has first Endless Space but not sequel? I mostly enjoy ES 2 so far, but only Beyond Earth has worse tech tree, at least trying to read and remember the whole picture of incremental upgrades and requirements. I'd also vote AC, but I think it's more general sci-fi than space 4x since you don't leave the planet.

 

[Irata]

Aurora C#
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=10635.0
https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/aurora-the-4x-dwarf-fortress.62376/

 

[jebsmoker]

space empires iv is good. very atmospheric, very customizable, good amount of depth that's almost comparable to aurora. space empires is not nearly as autistic as aurora, but it's close

 

[Joggerino]

space empires iv is good. very atmospheric, very customizable, good amount of depth that's almost comparable to aurora. space empires is not nearly as autistic as aurora, but it's close

You obviously never played aurora.

 

[Curratum]

Given that Endless Space 2 is the only space 4x that I was able to enjoy at all, I'd vote for that :D

 

[Raghar]

space empires iv is good. very atmospheric, very customizable, good amount of depth that's almost comparable to aurora. space empires is not nearly as autistic as aurora, but it's close

Actually is SE IV better than V? I remember it had shitty interface and bad graphic.

 

[jebsmoker]

v is.... alright, but it's not as memorable as iv

 

[Parsimonious cook]

if you want to have it in such a poll you should add Shadow Empire (also a single planet sci-fi 4x) which is roughly milion times more complex and much better (it is also better than SMAC, but people dont wont to hear it so w/e),

What in the fuck did you just say.
How can a 4X be better than SMAC?
Elaborate!

Yeah, this is what I talked about heh...

Shadow Empire has massive amount of detail invested into pretty much every aspect (though you could say diplomacy is a bit weak), you can create your own cabinet from people with stats that both matter and develop over time, you can set detailed policies both on the state, province and municipal level. you get to build vast planet-wide infrastructure systems that can bankrupt you if you dont pay attention to what is happening, there is the sense of exploration as you discover ancient artefacts or even alien lifeforms, there is detailed warfare with hostile factions that actively try to cut your supply lines... it sure has its flaws but IMO it outperforms SMAC where it matters.

I realise that SMAC is great game and it gets even better when looked at through the nostalgia glasses, but I am ready to say it was outmatched.

Try and see

 

[Demo.Graph]

Shadow Empire has massive amount of detail invested into pretty much every aspect

That often leads to excessive micromanagement.

(though you could say diplomacy is a bit weak)

A very British understatement, to say the least.

you can create your own cabinet from people with stats that both matter and develop over time

Only they don't (matter, because half the skills are useless and you can't really affect the meeples' development, so no Sims/CK for you). But you'll be able to enjoy glorious DF-style character generation and see ingenious streetfighters leading research institutions and gritty female generals.

you can set detailed policies both on the state, province and municipal level

If you dare to brave the obnoxious UI and like to play rock-paper-scissors with Social Engineering sliders (about third of which does nothing, because main dev is too lazy to finish them for years).

you get to build vast planet-wide infrastructure systems that can bankrupt you if you dont pay attention to what is happening

Also have fun razing your rail network to build mag tubes, because they can't be placed in one hex.

there is the sense of exploration as you discover ancient artefacts or even alien lifeforms

Experience goody huts and barbarians like never before! Again!

there is detailed warfare with hostile factions that actively try to cut your supply lines...

If only they were able to debelop and don't get steamrolled by tank rush in almost every game ever.

it sure has its flaws but IMO it outperforms SMAC where it matters.

For example you don't need to bother with aviation, because your spies are much more effective, don't depend on infrastructure and you can spam whole planet with them for a marginal cost.

I realise that SMAC is great game and it gets even better when looked at through the nostalgia glasses, but I am ready to say it was outmatched.

By the amount of bugs!

Try and see

Fascinating.

Indeed.

Spoiler

Actually, I've really liked SE. But it's as polished as EoFS ever was. "Currently in early beta stage."
E.g. several months ago lead dev made a poll asking players whether they use one of the unit chassis at all. Well, at least he listens to the community.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

MoO2 for space 4X and Alpha Centauri for classic sf-themed 4X. Guess that wasn't the most original answer, but I liked most of these games tbh. It's very difficult to fuck up a classic 4X formula so bad that your game becomes plain shit. Unless you're nu-firaxis, of course.

ES2 is the best of the new ones, but after first dlc it went downhill pretty fast and hard and is now a buggy, unfun mess.

 

[civac2]

Alpha Centauri is absolutely teeming with bugs too. The AI is incapable of playing it properly. Let's not go overboard.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

I won't, I promise.

 

[Raghar]

I remember when atuomatic combat shown ships firing these BIG POWERFUL BEAMS in close combat, and it looked right. It even required to close distance so there was a trade off when using them. I kinda remember version of ES2 where beams are no longer representing powerful weapons.

Downgrade.

 

[luj1]

if you want to have it in such a poll you should add Shadow Empire (also a single planet sci-fi 4x) which is roughly milion times more complex and much better (it is also better than SMAC, but people dont wont to hear it so w/e),

What in the fuck did you just say.
How can a 4X be better than SMAC?
Elaborate!

Yeah, this is what I talked about heh...

Shadow Empire has massive amount of detail invested into pretty much every aspect (though you could say diplomacy is a bit weak), you can create your own cabinet from people with stats that both matter and develop over time, you can set detailed policies both on the state, province and municipal level. you get to build vast planet-wide infrastructure systems that can bankrupt you if you dont pay attention to what is happening, there is the sense of exploration as you discover ancient artefacts or even alien lifeforms, there is detailed warfare with hostile factions that actively try to cut your supply lines... it sure has its flaws but IMO it outperforms SMAC where it matters.

I realise that SMAC is great game and it gets even better when looked at through the nostalgia glasses, but I am ready to say it was outmatched.

Try and see

Fascinating.

I will try this Shadow Empire game on your recommendation and see what is up with it.

Outperforming SMAC, a bold claim... we shall see...

Heard all the best about Shadow Empire... know a few grogs who swear by it

 

[tindrli]

where the fuck is Space empires IV

 

[Arrowgrab]

where the fuck is Space empires IV

Sequel to Space Empire III.

 

[Raghar]

where the fuck is Space empires IV

Sequel to Space Empire III.

Prequel to Space Empires V.

 

[Red Hexapus]

You forgot Stars! (1995) in that list...



PS. yeah it's a bit obscure, but I have great memories of that game

 

[tindrli]

whats worse he forgot space empires IV.
OP IS GAY

 

[Galdred]

In multiplayer, I think board game adaptations work better, as the games don't last too long for player to stop caring. I really like Space Empires 4X on Vassal (for its fog of war rules). I wish there were other streamlined options.
Neptune's Pride turn based also worked well(RT version requires too much no lifing for my tastes), but it was more about diplomacy and backtabb than anything else.

I tried MOO2, but having to wait for other players to resolve their battles killed it for us.
Space Empires 4 doesn't suffer this issue, but games can be really long. I still have great fun during my only PBEM with it, though, but our game was never completed.
Star Wars Rebellion and Sins of a Solar Empire also worked quite well for multiplayer (but juggling the UI of SW:R in MP was pure torture...).

 

[Gostak]

I enjoyed Starships Unlimited https://apezone.com/posts/201114/ free now!
There is a version 3 as well.

I really enjoy good diplomacy in such games and I heard SMAC is good at that.
But I do not like Civ's tendency to poop out one city after the next and having to manage all of these.

Remnants of the Precursors was a let down in the diplomacy category for me and I also hate the space monsters and Orion guardian being sooooo OP.
It is fun if another civ begs you to stop a war they started because you begin to take stuff from them (I managed so against the bear guys, but of course only because they were in more than one war).

Emperor of the Fading Suns seems nice but the scale and hence required time investment is too much for me. UI is also one that takes some getting used to.

Finally an occasion where this kinda fits ("proof" :p at 13m2s):

Play against a rather simplistic (but newbie challenging AI with this):
https://github.com/Quuxplusone/Homeworlds/