Non-RPG General News - A Golden Age of 4X Games

Explorminate thinks 4X games are more popular than ever:

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.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!