Best 4X Games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated 4x games. For those who prefer not to search, check out lists of the most played, top deals and best free to play 4X games on Steam.

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Eador. Masters of the Broken World Eador is a universe made of countless shards of land drifting in the Great Nothing. Each of the shards is a little world unto itself, with geography and denizens of its own. The power over the shards is bitterly contested by Masters, the immortal beings mortals believe to be gods.

Price 18.99€
Rating 6.7
Release 19 Apr 2013
Conquest of Elysium 3 Conquest of Elysium 3 (CoE3) is a streamlined turn based fantasy strategy game with a touch of rogue-like and the complex undertones of Illwinter's Dominions series. While CoE3 appears to be a simple game with limited options at first glance, delving further into the game reveals a game of complex decision making and risky endeavors.

Price -78% 2.23€
Rating 7.5
Release 24 Oct 2012
ENDLESS™ Space - Definitive Edition ENDLESS™ Space is a turn-based 4X strategy game, covering the space colonization age in the Endless universe, where you can control every aspect of your civilization as you strive for galactic domination.

Price 9.99€
Rating 7.9
Release 04 Jul 2012
Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion Command a space-faring empire in Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, the new stand-alone expansion that combines 4X depth with real-time strategy gameplay.

Price 18.49€
Rating 9.1
Release 12 Jun 2012
Warlock - Master of the Arcane In a time of chaotic upheaval, the player takes the role of a great mage, a warlord vying for ultimate power.

Price 23.99€
Rating 8.3
Release 08 May 2012
Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition Get the complete GalCiv II saga including Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords, the expansion pack Dark Avatar, and the newest expansion pack Twilight of the Arnor!

Price 9.49€
Rating 7.4
Release 02 Dec 2011
Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity® In Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity, you are the leader of a civilization embroiled in a galactic war, fighting for the survival of your entire race against relentless foes.

Price 9.49€
Rating 7.4
Release 16 Nov 2011
Age of Wonders Shadow Magic Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic is the third entry in the award winning fantasy strategy series. This fan-favorite enhances the series' praised fusion of empire building, role-playing and tactical combat with the eerie Shadow World and battle with races never before seen, across new and diverse landscapes.

Price -90% 0.91€
Rating 8.4
Release 12 Oct 2010
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne Age of Wonders II is the wildly anticipated sequel to the award-winning strategy phenomenon. Delivering an invigorating mix of Empire Building, Role-playing, and Warfare, Age of Wonders II brings s turn-based strategy to new heights.

Price -92% 0.72€
Rating 7.6
Release 12 Oct 2010
Age of Wonders Welcome to Age of Wonders, the authentic turn based fantasy strategy classic that started the hit series. Age of Wonders’ intimate atmosphere with painterly graphics still shines today. The game’s fully patched up, start building your fantasy empire today!

Price -85% 0.95€
Rating 7.5
Release 12 Oct 2010
Sid Meier's Civilization® V Create, discover, and download new player-created maps, scenarios, interfaces, and more!

Price 29.99€
Rating 9.5
Release 23 Sep 2010
Star Ruler Take command of a vast interstellar empire and safeguard your species from total extinction in a procedurally generated 3D galaxy (with the option to flatten it) from 1 System to 10,000+! Prove your species' ingenuity through a deep and intricate combat system where anything (from individual components on ships to the stars themselves)...

Price -94% 0.42€
Rating 7.7
Release 20 Sep 2010
Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection is the original Sword of the Stars games and the three expansions Born of Blood, A Murder of Crows and Argos Naval Yard. It is the year 2405, and human scientists have discovered a new technology that allows travel from star to star at speeds faster than light.

Price -96% 0.42€
Rating 8.2
Release 04 Jun 2010
STAR WARS™ Empire at War - Gold Pack Command or corrupt an entire galaxy in the definitive Star Wars strategy collection. It is a time of galactic civil war. Will you take up the reins of the Rebellion, assume control of the Empire, or rule the Star Wars Underworld?

Price 19.50€
Rating 9.6
Release 25 May 2010
AI War: Fleet Command "You are outgunned. You are massively outnumbered. You must win." These are your orders. Humanity has already fought its war against the machines -- and lost. AI death squads stand watch over every planet and every wormhole, the few remaining human settlements are held captive in orbiting bubbles, and the AIs have turned their...

Price -95% 0.54€
Rating 7.9
Release 21 Oct 2009
Europa Universalis III Complete Europa Universalis III Complete includes the original Europa Universalis III as well as the expansions In Nomine and Napoleons Ambition Europa Universalis III delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy.

Price 14.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 04 Feb 2009
X3: Terran Conflict It is the year 2938. The long wished-for encounter of the X Universe and the Earth holds both joy and sorrow for the people. Despite flourishing trade, the clash of the diverse races, cultures and life forms creates new tensions, mistrust and open conflict that need to be overcome!

Price -90% 1.59€
Rating 8.2
Release 16 Oct 2008
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is the third offering in the award winning Civilization IV series. A re-imagining of the classic Colonization game Sid Meier created in 1994, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is a total conversion of the Civilization IV engine into a game experience in which players will lead a European...

Price -77% 4.60€
Rating 8.3
Release 23 Sep 2008
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Sid Meier's Civilization IV®: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year that has become a worldwide hit.

Price 9.99€
Rating 9.3
Release 24 Jul 2007
Civilization IV®: Warlords Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Warlords is the first expansion pack for the award-winning game that has become an instant world-wide hit. Paying homage to some of history's greatest military leaders, the expansion delivers six unique and interesting scenarios, giving players the chance to change the course of history with the help of their...

Price 4.99€
Rating 8.5
Release 06 Apr 2007
Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

Price 24.99€
Rating 9.4
Release 15 Nov 2006
Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete, the latest offering in the Sid Meier's Civilization III franchise, provides gaming fans with Sid Meier's Civilization III, the highly-addictive journey of discovery.

Price 4.99€
Rating 8.7
Release 25 Oct 2006
Sid Meier's Civilization® IV With over 6 million units sold and unprecedented critical acclaim from fans and press around the world, Sid Meier's Civilization is recognized as one of the greatest PC game franchises of all-time. Now, Sid Meier and Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive game to new heights by adding new ways to play and win, new...

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.9
Release 25 Oct 2006
Space Empires V Space Empires V is the latest edition in the Space Empires series. This new chapter completely updates the UI and takes the player into a real-time rendered 3D universe. Watch space battles played out in glorious detail and realistic effects. Expand, Explore, Exploit, and Exterminate in a huge living breathing galaxy.

Price -97% 0.66€
Rating 6.9
Release 16 Oct 2006