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Strategy

4X

A strategy game where you start from a small settlement and turn it into an empire that explores the map, expands, exploits its resources and eliminates or outpaces its rivals. You balance economy, technology, diplomacy and war over very long sessions.

Also known as: 4X strategy, explore, expand, exploit, exterminate

This is a basic entry: it has the definition and the classification. Full entries add history, games and a demo.

History

  1. 1983
    Origin

    Cosmic Balance II, Andromeda Conquest and Reach for the Stars, all from 1983, are now seen retrospectively as 4X games; the last already linked economic growth, technology and conquest.

    4X (Wikipedia)
  2. 1991

    Sid Meier's Civilization popularises the genre and the level of detail that later became standard.

    4X (Wikipedia)
  3. 1993

    Alan Emrich coins the term "4X" in a Master of Orion preview for Computer Gaming World.

    4X (Wikipedia)