FOUR SCORE

The BEST 4X GAMES for today’s discerning a explorers, expanderspexploiters, Ae and exterminators

- Leana Hafer

STELLARIS 

RELEASED May 9, 2016 | DEVELOPER Paradox | PUBLISHER In-house

After six years, several expansions, and dozens of patches, Paradox’s space 4X has aged like a fine alien wine. With a mind-boggling array of imagine is at your fingertips. And various systems reworks and improvements mean there’s never been a better time to spin up your drives.

What really sets Stellaris apart from other space 4X games is the depth of its society simulation, a staple of Paradox games. There is more abstraction going on here than some of the studio’s other projects, but the fact that I can see what is causing so much crime on my forge worlds or be pressured to change my stance on planetary bombardment by a disgruntled political faction helps the galaxy come alive.

ENDLESS LEGEND

RELEASED Sep 18, 2014 | DEVELOPER Amplitude Studios | PUBLISHER Sega, Iceberg Interactive