Epic Scale 4x pc games

[uttaku]

I've being having a bit of a sci fi reading binge recently and now have a real hanking to play a truly epic scale 4x game.

I'm looking for recommendations for a pc 4x which actually lets you do anything a civilisation of that power would be able to do, things like building a ringworld, center point station or using kriliss torches. One that lets you manage an empire of dozens/hundreds of worlds.

I don't really mind about the age, although the last 15 years would be preferable, or graphics, I play aurora, just any suggestions for a 4x that really lets your imagination run wild.

Cheers.

 

[KillaBC]

There is a lot, the most recent is Endless Space, which is easy to get your head around but a challenge to beat. Has a very nice UI and the empire engagement is easy.

GalCiv 2 is more in the vein of Civ in space.

Distant Words, haven't played it though.

MoO 2 for some classic gaming.

 

[The Madman]

Galactic Civilizations 2 is probably still the most epic in scale 4x I've ever played, and it's a damned good game to boot. Take over the entire galaxy in maps so massive they make earth seem downright quaint. Fight against a large array of alien races each boasting some of the best AI you'll find in a strategy game to date. Build your own Death Star and blow up the planets of those who dare to defy your empire, or rally your own forces as the damn Krynn uncover an ancient battleship of unfathomable power and use it to spearhead an invasion against your homeplanet.

Game's got it all! Bit old now but then visuals rarely make much of a difference in these sorts of games anyway I've found. So yeah, GalCiv2, good chance it's what you're looking for.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Sins of a Solar Empire is great if you want to focus on massive fleet combat. Rebellion comes packaged with all the earlier expansions as well, leading to some giant battles with multiple starbases, titans and hundreds of attack ships on fire off the shoulder of orion.

 

[Joccaren]

Galactic Civilizations II is good. Get the Twilight of the Arnor or W/E expansion and you have what may as well be a galaxy to play with that's how large you can make the maps.
You can design your own ships, build space stations, explore the galaxy, do all the usual 4X stuff, build a deathstar if you have the expansion - massive scale, and there's a lot you can do.

Of course there are games that let you do more in some areas, but I'd give Gal Civ II a go at any rate. Have tried many of the others but never really got into them.

 

[uttaku]

Cheers, fo the replies, I've got gal civ 2 and while its very good 4x, its not quite what I'm after, sure you can build big ships, but they don't really feel large and things like ringworlds or superweapons capable of reaching out across the galaxy are beyond it. What I'm really after is one on a galatic scale.

AlsoI wasn't very impressed with endless space, it just felt samey and sins is good but again not on the scale I was after.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Yeah well, unfortunately GalCiv 2 is about as big as it gets. Unless you want to try Sword of the Stars 2, there's really nothing else that comes to mind.

 

[CommanderL]

Cheers, fo the replies, I've got gal civ 2 and while its very good 4x, its not quite what I'm after, sure you can build big ships, but they don't really feel large and things like ringworlds or superweapons capable of reaching out across the galaxy are beyond it. What I'm really after is one on a galatic scale.

AlsoI wasn't very impressed with endless space, it just felt samey and sins is good but again not on the scale I was after.

you should check out star ruler there is no limit to how big you can build items and ships and the mods add tons and tons

the game http://store.steampowered.com/app/70900/


the mod http://www.moddb.com/mods/galactic-armory

 

[KillaBC]

If you can get space empires 5 working you can build ring worlds and Dyson spheres. Though it has some serious compatibility issues with 64-bit OS's.

 

[Hagi]

If I may add in a question of my own, as someone who loves strategy, just not the real-time variant, are any of these turn-based or at the very least at a very manageable pace?

As the OP I quite like things on a galactic scale, but I don't really enjoy the pace you find on a small-scale RTS so the same happening on a much larger scale would probably make my head explode. Not sure how fast these things usually go as I don't really have experience with them but since I saw this thread I thought I might as well ask

 

[Bad Jim]

This might be a good time to mention that GOG are doing a promo for strategy games. They're not all 4X, but the first GalCiv game is there.

http://www.gog.com/promo/thinking_gamers_delight_weekend_promo_230813

http://www.gog.com/game/galactic_civilizations_i_ultimate_edition

 

[Bad Jim]

If I may add in a question of my own, as someone who loves strategy, just not the real-time variant, are any of these turn-based or at the very least at a very manageable pace?

Galactic Civilizations and Master of Orion are both turn based. Sins of a Solar empire is real-time. Can't comment on the others.

 

[EXos]

First X4 I ever played was ascendancy. Which is I believe the mother of the genre...

Though it was a DOS game. XD So it's a bit too old for the topic.

I really liked Space Empires V though what I missed though is; in Ascendancy with higher tech you could usually shoot much further resulting in being able to shoot a ship that entered the solar system from the opposite side. In SE5 you have to move to the same hexagon before you can destroy the opponents.

But ranting aside the SE series is pretty good. And pretty cheap on steam XD