In my experience, the term “4X” is to gamers as “Dungeons & Dragons” is to everyday, tabletop role-playing non-enthusiasts. It conjures images of convoluted, esoteric activities fit only for the furthest-gone, the hardest of the hardcore. If you don't know just what the heck all those strategy grognards are talking about (hint for the uninitiated: 4X is shorthand for “explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate”), it sounds like it's more work than fun.
Me? I prefer “grand strategy” – which makes me think less of boring map hexes and more of tactical, Napoleonic world-conquering. Now doesn't that sound a lot cooler?
Anyway, I digress; this is a weird strategy gaming subgenre, spanning everything from weird, (comparatively) niche games like Space Empires V and Dominions 3, all the way up to dazzling, turn-based epics like Civilization V and Sins of a Solar Empire. One notable sci-fi 4X epic, Master of Orion, hasn't seen the light of day since its polarizing third installment way back in 2003. Nevertheless, some folks love that series to that day -- including those at developer L3O Interactive, whose spiritual Master of Orion successor Horizon has been available via Steam Early Access since summer.
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