Yep. It’s that time of year again! eXplorminate is proud to present what we believe are the best 4X game, 4X expansion and Most Improved 4X of 2018. Come and listen to our esteemed e4X hosts Nate and Troy, while they discuss: all the candidates, winners, the state of 4X gaming in the past 12 months and what the future holds.

Music for eXplorminate by Mangadrive

Show Notes:

Game of the Year 2018 – 03:25

1. Warhammer 40000: Gladius – Relics of War Steam page – Nate, Matt, Micah, Dallin, Troy – WINNER
2. Northgard Steam page – Oliver, Joe
3. Space Tyrant Steam page – Mark
4. Abstained: Joshua, Ben
5. Other games mentioned
   • Endless Legend Steam page
   • Thea: The Awakening Steam page
   • Civilization 6 Steam page
   • Age of Wonders 3 Steam page
   • Driftland: The Magic Revival Steam page

eXpansion of the Year 2018 – 16:45

1. Stellaris: MegaCorp Steam page – Mark, Matt, Dallin = WINNER
2. Endless Space 2 – Vaulters Steam page – Oliver, Nate
3. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Rise and Fall Steam page – Joshua
4. Endless Legend – Inferno Steam page – Joe
5. Endless Space 2 – Supremacy Steam page – Ben
6. Galactic Civilizations III: Intrigue Expansion Steam page – Troy
7. Abstained: Micah

Most Improved 4X of the Year 2018 – 25:56

1. Endless Space 2 Steam page – Nate, Oliver, Ben, Joe, Troy – WINNER
2. Stellaris Steam page – Matt, Mark, Dallin
3. Civilization 6 Steam page – Joshua
4. Community: Endless Space 2
5. Abstained: Micah
6. Other games mentioned
   • Endless Space 2 – Galactic Statecraft Update Steam page
   • Endless Space 2 – Supremacy Steam page
   • Endless Space 2 – Vaulters Steam page
   • Endless Space Steam page
   • Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Steam page
   • Dominions 5 Steam page
   • Distant Worlds: Universe Steam page
   • Bejeweled 3 Steam page

Guilty Pleasures of 2018 – 40:12

1. CrossCode Steam page – Matt
2. Battletech Steam page – Nate, Matt, Joe
3. Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition Steam page – Ben
4. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Steam page – Mark
5. Star Control: Origins Steam page – Joshua
6. Elite Dangerous Steam page – Micah
7. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Steam page – Oliver
8. Total War: Warhammer II Steam Page – Dallin
9. Red Dead Redemption 2 webpage – Nate
10. World of Tanks Blitz Steam page – Troy
11. Other games mentioned
    • Dawn of War Steam page
    • Dawn of War II Steam page
    • Dawn of War III Steam page
    • Star Wars Battlefront II webpage
    • Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus Steam page
    • Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr Steam page
    • Blood Bowl 2 Steam page
    • Aggressors: Ancient Rome Steam page

Looking forward into 2019 – 51:30

1. Nate
   • Thea 2: The Shattering webpage
   • Age of Wonders: Planetfall Steam page
   • Phoenix Point webpage
2. Troy
   • Thea 2: The Shattering webpage
   • Age of Wonders: Planetfall Steam page
   • Driftland: The Magic Revival Steam page
3. Other games mentioned
   • Deity Empires Steam page
   • At the Gates webpage
   • Empires in Ruins Steam page
   • Interstellar Space Genesis Steam page
   • Predestination Steam page
   • Children of the Galaxy
   • Remnants of the Precursors webpage
   • Starborne: Sovereign Space page
   • Gala Collider webpage
   • Dungeon of the Endless Steam page