This is an addendum to the StarDrive Plus: Starting Out As The Humans (2023) article and was intended to be released within a week or two of that article. Be sure to take a look at it if you haven’t seen it, or if you find this one confusing and need to refresh your memory. All factions in StarDrive Plus (a single installer for StarDrive 1 with the Black Box and Combined Arms mods) have access to a common set of orbital defense platforms/stations. Although they can use the same weapons as ships, they’re most effective when armed with specialized weapons that can only be used on these hulls. S ..read more

When Solium Infernum was first announced, I confess to being excited without being particularly informed. I didn’t read any of the coverage, and consequently, I imagined a traditional 4X set in Hell. The prospect of interesting factions, units, and mechanics captured my imagination, and I jumped at the chance to review the game.  It turns out that reading announcement headlines may not be as informative as taking the time to read preview articles. Solium Infernum is not a 4X set in Hell. It’s not any kind of 4X. It is, instead, a complex and fascinating turn-based board game with some uni ..read more

Songs of Silence is a unique-looking 4X, with some key features that set it apart from traditional 4X strategy games: Single Evening Gameplay: Songs of Silence is designed to offer a satisfying gaming experience in a single evening, catering to modern gamers with limited availability of time. Mix of Gameplay Elements: It combines turn-based strategy with hero development, where players manage resources, make crucial decisions in battles, and engage in real-time battles enriched with auto battlers and playing cards. Kingdom Management: The game focuses on managing three resources – gold, ston ..read more

A millennium after mankind’s near-extinction, a few sleeping “Emissaries” of the old world rise from the ashes of the apocalypse in an attempt to reunite humanity and begin again. Revival: Recolonization, developed by HeroCraft PC, retells the familiar story of Civilization, but set on an Earth that’s now alien and starring a humanity that can no longer take their environment for granted. “Ok,” says you, “so Alpha Centauri.” No. Well, ok, sort of. There are elements of Alpha Centauri here, from the themes of the game to customizing unit equipment. But that’s hardly all: the strategic layer is ..read more

After releasing my first article, 2024X: A Golden Age of 4X (eXplorminate link), I soon realized I was missing much of what will make 2024X a great year outside of new releases. Quite frankly, some of the best parts of 2024X will be the continued support some already great games will be getting this year. Old World (already received the Wonders and Dynasties DLC) Age of Wonders 4 Galactic Civilizations 4 Distant Worlds 2 Interstellar Space: Genesis Dune: Spice Wars Stellaris, I’m sure. I’m likely still missing something, as there is SO MUCH this year that it’s hard to keep track of. Let’s di ..read more

Rob, Ben, Drexy, and Shaun discuss the incredible year that will be 2024 and its likelihood of being one of the best years for the 4X genre in a long, long time. Music by White Bat Audio. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/explorminate Support the eXplorminate Podcast Do you enjoy our podcast? Support us for less than the price of a single coffee! Podcast Patreon ..read more

Dune: Spice Wars is a real-time 4X game where you look to oust rival factions for control of the planet Arrakis. It’s often mistaken for an RTS/4X hybrid and while there are pieces you could consider more on the RTS side with base building and combat, the scope of the game is such that these elements feel more aligned to 4X titles like Star Ruler 2, Imperium Galactica II, or Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain than a true RTS like Supreme Commander. It’s been quite a ride since Dune: Spice Wars was released last year. There was controversy around the last faction, Ecaz, at launch. Since then, several ..read more

Kingsvein (Steam Link) by Rad Codex is the latest in the developer’s series of strategy role-playing games (SRPG) loosely based on the Final Fantasy Tactics system. Each game is further refined for the modern era, compared to previous entries, while being remixed with various genres to create fairly distinct and unique games.  In Kingsvein you play a diecast wisp hunter, a member of a sentient race of rock people dedicated to hunting down a threat known as wisps, creatures that can control and animate the bodies of the dead. When all contact with the city of Kingsvein is lost after wisps ..read more

Many fans of the 4X genre refer back to the 90s as “the Golden Age of 4X”. It makes sense, as some of the greatest games ever made in the genre, such as Civilization 2, Master of Orion 1 and 2, Master of Magic, Colonization, and more, were released in the 1990s. Those games are the pillars of the genre. They’ve influenced every single 4X game released since. Then, about a decade ago, many started asking if we were on the verge of yet another 4X golden age, but Oliver argued against it (eXplorminate eXposition). Looking back, I’d disagree with Oliver, as some games of the 2010s were outstanding ..read more

Star Trek: Infinite is an odd game. After spending dozens of hours going through multiple campaigns, I’m still unsure how I feel about it. I plan to point out the game’s flaws, which are many and glaring, but games are never simply the sum of things that work or don’t work. The enjoyable elements of Infinite can be more challenging to identify, but they’re definitely there. Even as I write this, I’m thinking about how I am going to approach my next game. So, while I fire away my criticisms, keep in mind that this game is undeniably fun, and with a lot of hours under my belt, I don’t feel entir ..read more