As the end of the year draws in, it is tradition for the staff here at eXplorminate to pick a list of our most anticipated 4X titles due for release over the following twelve months. We’re only aware of four pure 4X games incoming in 2021, so this time around our list will be a little different.

Instead, let’s look at the four confirmed 4X games, a couple of confirmed 4X-adjacent games and a 4X game we’ll go out on a limb and say might be out in some form or another in 2021.

Without further ado…

Humankind

It’s hard not to get really excited about Humankind. First, it’s being developed by a veteran 4X developer, Amplitude Studios, who are responsible for the modern classic, Endless Legend and the Endless Space games: both solid titles, if not quite as excellent as Endless Legend.

Furthermore, while we were a bit nervous after the first couple OpenDev scenarios (these were limited early access scenarios that Amplitude has been conducting), the latest iteration, dubbed “Lucy”, is a significant leap forward in both usability and fun.

All of the sudden, many of the folks that have been following Humankind are all abuzz with anticipation and excitement, as many of the issues from the second OpenDev scenario have been addressed, with more fixes and balancing adjustments to come and with plenty of time to do it. They are still almost four months out from their April 22, 2021 release date, after all.

And what’s not to like about what we’ve seen and played? First, it’s absolutely gorgeous:

But beyond its beauty, Amplitude are trying many new mechanics. The most obvious of which is fully-controllable turn-based combat along with a territory system borrowed from Endless Legend, diplomacy that allows for unique and dynamic interactions between faction leaders, options for fully customizing your avatar and changing attire based on the culture you choose, and much more.

Speaking of culture, another huge departure from other historical 4X games is Humankind’s culture mechanic, wherein you’ll choose between ten separate cultures each time you progress into a new era. This leads to an often strange, and fun, amalgamation of cultures that will combine over time to become your culture.

Altogether, things are really looking great for Amplitude Studio’s take on the historical 4X genre. As the studio head, Romain du Waubert, said in our podcast interview with him, the studio was created with the intent of making this game one day, and so we’re eager to see how well they can pull it off come April 22.

Our (very educated) guess is that they’ll be creating some serious competition for the Civilization series and become a genuine contender for the 4X throne.

To see more of it, check out our recent Let’s eXplore series on Humankind’s “Lucy” OpenDev:

Distant Worlds 2

We’ve been waiting a long, long time to be able to say that the sequel to one of the most popular and well-liked 4X games of all time is finally around the proverbial corner. Just as recently as a couple of weeks ago, Matrix and Slitherine soft announced that Distant Worlds 2 would indeed launch in 2021, with a beta build just weeks away from seeing reality.

Oh, you missed that announcement? No surprise, as it was done on the down-low here:

Many of you may not have known this…
In closing the live broadcast last night we announced two important things that will happen in January.
Both concerning #DistantWorlds2! pic.twitter.com/KpHO0e5HI5

— Matrix Games (@Matrix_Wargames) December 4, 2020

As of the time of this writing, not much is actually known about Distant Worlds 2 regarding gameplay, but from what we can gather, it’s not a huge departure from the first game. And that’s just fine. All most of us really want is a better-looking, easier-to-read Distant Worlds with better usability and a cleaner user interface. Base on the screenshots we’ve seen, that’s exactly what they’re making.

We found this recent teaser of how the scale of Distant Worlds 2 is just what we’d expect, and we couldn’t be happier:

We’re expecting to hear and learn a lot more about Distant Worlds 2 in the early part of 2021, perhaps even as soon as January, so be sure to check back here! As you know we’ll be reporting anything and everything we can on this eXtremely promising 4X game. In the meantime, you can help the time pass by looking over our previous news announcement of Distant Worlds 2.

Old World

Only in a year where we have a Distant Worlds sequel and a new Amplitude Studios 4X game would a new 4X game by Soren Johnson, the lead designer of the extremely popular Civilization 4, seem like the underdog. Too few people are talking about this 4X-meets-Crusader-Kings mix and somehow, it may just end up a sleeper hit as a result.

As described above, Old World is what happens when you mix the dynastic gameplay of Paradox’s Crusader Kings games with the turn-based empire management of 4X. Not only does your leader age over time, but they eventually die and your heirs end up taking the reins.

As the characters grow and gain experience through events and training, they develop character traits and archetypes that shape their personality types and skillsets. This leads to some wildly different game sessions, as your characters have a direct impact on what happens, based on their reactions to other characters, and what traits they embody, thus sometimes allowing for different options in the hundreds of different events that take place in a game:

It’s not just the events and people that make Old World unique, either. It’s also a revolutionary “Orders” system that has converted movement into its own distinct – and important – resource. Now, you can move your units almost as far as you want in any given turn, depending on the number of Orders you have and the “Training Rate” you’ve accumulated. Training Rate allows you to force march a unit after they’ve run out of Orders, thus providing the extra movement you might need to take a strategic hex or make a final push towards an enemy.

There’s even more to Old World than I’ve described here, which is exactly why it’s on our list and shouldn’t be overlooked despite the surprising competition that it has in 2021.

For more on how Old World is shaping up, check out my recent Let’s eXplore here:

And of course, be sure to check back later in 2021 when we’ll have our full review of Old World.

Three down, one more to go. And it’s none other than…

Remnants of the Precursors

Well, one thing is for certain: Remnants of the Precursors is the cheapest 4X game coming out in 2021. Coming in at the ever-affordable price of FREE, Remnants of the Precursors defies its pricetag and has earned its place on this list among many heavy hitters.

If you don’t know, Remnants of the Precursors (RotP) is a Master of Orion 1 remake written in Java, but with a brand new, modern feeling user interface, updated hand-drawn visuals that bring the classic Bulrathi, Sakkra, Psilons and all your other favourites to life in ways we’ve never seen before, with many more improvements on top of all that.

It’s the passion project of Ray Fowler, a man we’ve had on our podcast a time or two, and his passion seeps through in every aspect of RotP. Not only have the visuals improved by the talented artist Petar and creative UI designer Kaitlin, but he’s also hired a professional writer to add all-new flavor text for each of the game’s races, adding a whole new level of immersion.

Here’s an example of both the excellent writing and the amazing artistry:

Appropriately catty, yes? Also, the art is magnificent and really goes a long way to better immerse you into the game. I could go on and on about how great RotP is, but honestly, you should already be playing it if you’re a 4X fan or if you liked/loved Master of Orion 1. It’s a clone of the beloved title, only with significant upgrades.

Download it Free Here

4X-Adjacent Games of 2021

There are also some promising 4X-like games that are worthy of your time and attention. These games incorporate some of the mechanics and characteristics of 4X games, while not adhering to the “formula” completely. There are many, many games that fit into this category, but these are, in my very humble opinion (let me know if I’m wrong in the comments below), the most promising:

Alliance of the Sacred Suns

Another character-driven strategy game, Alliance of the Sacred Suns (AotSS) is what you’d get if you mixed the politics of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” with the gameplay that blends the best of Crusader Kings and Master of Orion.

You play as the emperor of an empire comprised of several great houses. Interacting with those houses, manipulating them, and playing politics with them and their leaders is where the strategy all comes together.

Meanwhile, you’ll also be exploring new worlds, colonizing them, and doing your best to increase your strength as an Empire in preparation for the return of an ancient and deadly enemy, the Xyl.

Early previews were promising and we’re due to check in on AotSS, so stay tuned for some video coverage real soon. Until then, you can learn more about the game on its Steam page.

Terra Invicta

From the developers of the ultra-popular Long War mods for XCOM 1 and 2, Terra Invicta is developer Pavonis Interactive’s (formerly Long War Studios) first foray into its own game development.

Part 4X, part Grand Strategy, Terra Invicta puts you in the role of one of the seven factions of Earth that are working, in different ways, to address a new alien threat. Depending on the faction you control, your approach to that threat is different. Do you endeavor to destroy it at all costs, worship the aliens as gods, or negotiate a surrender to avoid humanity’s destruction?

Either way, you’ll be recruiting council members to help you in your mission, researching new technologies, exploring the solar system in its entirety and learning different ways to exploit it, and battling it out with alien vessels in addition to many more working parts that the game promises to provide.

Everything we’ve seen from the game so far looks promising and the Kickstarter was extremely successful, bringing in over ten times the requested amount. We’re very excited to see it out in the wild later in 2021! Except me. I went all-in on the Kickstarter and backed it at the Alpha level, so I’ll be playing it in some form very soon 😉

For more on Terra Invicta and its lead developer, John Lumpkin, check out our podcast interview with him.

Stay tuned for more as we can share it!

Star Dynasties

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned Crusader Kings more times in any article on eXplorminate, but here I am again, about to compare a game to Crusader Kings.

Only this time, it’s much more of an actual one-for-one comparison as Star Dynasties is exactly what you’d get if you made Crusader Kings 2, only in space.

There’s a lot to like about Star Dynasties and it has been improving since it was picked up by Iceberg Interactive earlier this year. They had two closed betas, the most recent of which was very, very promising. It could use a bit more direction, and some more user interface love, but its goal of giving us fun and often absurd story generation surrounding a number of political members in a variety of space-based empires is very much on track.

Here’s an early, pre-Alpha video I did a long while back:

I hope to provide you all with updated gameplay video the next time they run a beta, as much has changed for both the usability and more importantly, the user interface, of Star Dynasties and it’d be nice to show the potential fans how well it’s shaping up.

Slipways

Part 4X, part puzzle game, Slipways is a strange and lovely resource-linking strategy game that clearly borrows from the 4X genre, but adds a lot of unique things to make it very much its own entity.

I’ve been playing a late-alpha build and have really enjoyed its gameplay mechanics. This version is an upgraded, Unity-based version of a PICO-8 fan favorite that you can find here.

Slipways is difficult to describe, so I’ll let its Steam page start it off: “Turn desolate planets into a vast trade empire. Hatch plans. Research game-breaking technologies. Still, be done in time for lunch. Enjoy the endless possibilities of a space grand strategy game in 60 minutes flat.”

Think Star Ruler 2‘s planet connection system, only in a much smaller universe, at a much faster pace, and with a high score to chase. For a bit more, check out this trailer:

Certainly, something to watch out for next year as a fun, fast alternative to the traditional 4X (slog).

Late Addition (1/21/21): Stellar Monarch 2

Having only been announced a couple of weeks ago, it’s fair to say that we can add the sequel to the ambitious Stellar Monarch to this list. Stellar Monarch 2 puts you in the role of the Emperor and Head of a Royal Dynasty. It’s a very macro-management-focused game, with elements of 4X, Grand Strategy, and character manipulation that you usually see from Paradox games.

Though admittedly, we’re not exactly sure what will be improved or added upon from the first game, Stellar Monarch was solid enough that a sequel definitely piques our interest. So stay tuned to eXplorminate as more is revealed about this upcoming title!

Pure Speculation

So there’s one game that I’m feeling pretty confident in predicting we’ll see in some form in 2021, most likely in a limited alpha or even an Early Access state.

Any guesses?

I’ll begin by pointing you to some evidence that supports my claim. First, this post on the Steam discussion forums for Fallen Enchatress: Legendary Heroes:

He’s also made it pretty clear in the Stardock forums and on their Discord that they’re chugging along with…

Galactic Civilizations 4

Call it a hunch. Call it an obsession with everything 4X. Call it crazy. Call it whatever you want to call it, just know that when it’s announced for a 2021 appearance, *I* called it!

With Galactic Civilizations 3 (GalCiv3) being over five years old at this point, and the last expansion being confirmed as the last expansion, I’m willing to bet that Brad’s openness about the next iteration in many corners of the internet means that they’re close to announcing it.

With that announcement, and with Stardock being so damn quiet nowadays, I think they’re going to have a lot more to show than people would expect and will probably have something playable, maybe in the same way that Stardock had a “Founder’s Edition” for GalCiv3, i.e. an early alpha version for early adopters at a premium price.

We’ll see. Brad recently had this to say about the lessons learned from GalCiv3:

Anyway, mark my words. It’s a hunch, maybe an educated guess, but I feel like we’ll be seeing Galactic Civilizations 4 in some form in 2021.

4X Games Post 2021

There are a few games in development that are not slated for a 2021 release, but may see the light of day in an Early Access state. Here are a few:

• Revival: Recolonization: This is all but guaranteed to release in an Early Access form next year, as our interview with Vasily from HeroCraft provided us a working timeline of the release milestones for Revival, but it’s not expected to be done until 2022. Our early impressions of the Alpha, which you can join just by visiting their website, are very promising. Revival: Recolonization could be something special.
• Lord of Rigel: Believe it or not, Lord of Rigel is still very much in development, even if it’s at a snail’s pace. Last we checked in, the developers rewrote the whole game in the Unreal engine, but progress towards a playable game has been steady. We expect to see it in an Early Access form sometime in 2021, with a full release in 2022. Nothing official has been said in quite some time, however.
• The First Men: This fantasy real-time 4X game looks very promising, but almost nothing has been said about it in 2020. We hope to see a playable version, likely via Early Access, in 2021 and a full release in 2022. But at this point, this might just be wishful thinking.
• Dominus Galaxia: Saying that very little progress has been made since its successful October 2019 Kickstarter is quite an understatement. It’s disappointing to see that StarChart Interactive has done little with this promising Master of Orion 1 spiritual successor, but we’re hopeful an Early Access will start in 2021 and that we see possible release at some point in the next couple of years. We’re not holding our breath though, quite frankly.
• The Pegasus Expedition: An unsuccessful Kickstarter has undoubtedly set them back, but the developers, Kalla Games, plan to keep working on this story-driven 4X game. They were great to talk to in our podcast interview and seemed very excited about their project, but owing to the aforementioned situation we don’t see this game releasing in full form until 2022.

What Did We Miss?

There are so many games slated to come out in 2021 that I’ve most certainly missed a few. Which games are you guys most looking forward to? Which games did I miss? Feel free to comment below and let me know what 4X or 4X-like game you’re most excited for in 2021! You can always take a look at the eXplorminate Database, too, if you’re ever interested in finding games you may not already know about.

Speaking of which, I’m looking for some help keeping that up to date. Any interest? If so, please email me at eXplorminate@gmail.com. It may be due for a nice overhaul, too. I’m willing to pay the right person, especially for a more aesthetic and easier to access overhaul.

I digress. 4X is alive and well and so is eXplorminate. Can’t wait to keep exploring these games with you guys!