What is the 4X Genre of Games?
Introduction
The 4X strategy gameplay genre has been a staple of the PC gaming world for decades, offering addictive and engaging experiences for gamers worldwide. To understand the 4X gameplay genre, it is essential to dig into its history, core mechanics, sub-genres, and popular examples in the gaming industry. In this article, you will learn what 4X strategy games are, how they evolved from the early days of computer gaming, and understand the various sub-genres in this fascinating genre.
History
The 4X strategy genre did not emerge overnight. Its ancestor, the turn-based strategy (TRS) genre, was popularizing in the 1970s and 80’s. TRS games were typically inspired by board games like Chess or Risk, where players controlled armies for battles and territorial conquest, but with added depth considering factors like resource management.
The 4X term started gaining popularity in the early 1980s with the release of games by developers like Avalon Hills and MicroProse. Meier’s Civilization (1991), a pioneering game in its own right, played a central role in shaping the 4X genre it is today. Civilization’s popularity and influence can be best understood by considering the impact it received from critics and gamers alike, further solidifying the genre’s reputation of providing engaging, deep simulations of scientific research, economics, resource management, and warfare.
Core 4X Mechanics
So what defines a 4X game? Three key elements must be mastered:
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Explore: The ‘E’ in 4X embodies the idea of exploration. Players use various means to expand their view of the game world, be it scouts, exploratory units, or new technologies. The more thorough the exploration, the better.
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Expand: Once aware of the game world, players shift their focus to expansion. This can be characterized by colonizing new lands, cities, or territories. Resource gathering should be a primary consideration in this crucial phase.
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Exploit: The ‘E’ of explotation is concerned with building and managing resources, armies and economies. Players should allocate acquired resources effectively, establish production infrastructures, and cultivate trade arrangements.
- Exterminate: The final ‘X’ stands symbolically for the constant threat – war. Players may need the capacity to defend themselves or wage invasions on other civilizations, with considerations like diplomacy, war technology, resources, and military balance playing determining roles.
Sub-Genres