As 2025 nears its end, we’ve collected the year’s best 4X games that made us play one more turn.
Much like the RTS space, 4X strategy games haven’t had much luck when it comes to new releases worth celebrating. Everyone knows about the heavy hitters, but those we can count with only three fingers. As for mid and small-sized titles, we’ve had to cast a wide net to catch new 4X games that we were happy with.
With this five-entry unranked list, we’re highlighting those we think are worth your time and money as we walk into (a hopefully busier) 2026.
Endless Legend 2
Even in its current early access form, Endless Legend 2 packs some of the most exciting and meaty mechanics and systems we’ve seen in the 4X space recently. After having a bit of a frustrating bad run with Humankind’s post-launch, Amplitude has come out swinging with this off-beat follow-up to the original Endless Legend, which takes us to a new fantasy world with its own unique set of rules.
Sharp learning curve aside, there’s plenty to love in Endless Legend 2 already: The profoundly asymmetrical factions are completely different ways to experience the world of Saiadha, and the cataclysm-oriented map progression opens up new possibilities before things begin to get stale. With much more content on the horizon and multiplayer finally here, things are only starting to heat up.
Europa Universalis V
Many diehards will shout Europa Universalis V isn’t really a pure 4X game, and while it definitely belongs to the grand strategy subgenre, we still think it contains everything you’d want out of a turn-based 4X game. In any case, in a year that hasn’t been the greatest on this front, we’ll take this one. Plus, it’s an excellent turn-based strategy game that will have you obsessing over complex maps anyway.
Details and granularity are still the main traits that make EUV special, but with more attention paid to QoL and onboarding, if you’re about to jump into grand strategy games, this one’s probably the best choice you can go with at the moment. Automation features are also welcome additions that can make powering through its slower, more daunting aspects more bearable until you’re confident enough. As far as turn-based historical games go, EUV might be the new apex predator and one that will be relevant for years to come.
Civilization 7
Civilization 7 (or VII if you’re feeling classical) caused a lot of division when it came out in early 2025, and we’re sure it’ll be a while before most people begin to reevaluate what Firaxis was going for. Not all of its changes and additions work, sure, but this is far from a bottom tier 4X game, and as a more fast-paced alternative to the fifth and sixth entries, it’s got a lot of value.
If you ask us, Civilization 7 is more of a tabletop-like 4X game. The breezier, less cumbersome turns allow the existence of games that never feel like a slog no matter how big your new empire is, and that’s truly something rare to see in the 4X space. With expansion packs surely in development, it’s likely the game will follow the traditional progression of becoming a widely celebrated Civilization entry years after its original launch. We still dislike how age transitions were handled though.
Heart of the Machine
Hooded Horse continues to deliver strategy game winners of all types and sizes, and early 2025 gave us a new 4X darling in the shape of Heart of the Machine. Heavy in simulations and looking like a dystopian city builder at first glance, the reality of its nature is much more complex.
In Heart of the Machine, you play as a sentient AI who has escaped a lab and can evolve in a myriad of ways in a far-future city. Will you be good or bad? Things get more complex and muddy, and that’s the fun of it. With hacking, click-based exploration, all sorts of upgrade paths, and the ability to even manufacture physical tools (and weapons), Arcen Games’ early access game is one of this year’s most intriguing, and we’re of the opinion it fits the 4X bill.
Kaiserpunk
Last but not least, we have Kaiserpunk, a “grand city builder” which ultimately comes across as a more layered 4X game. The setting takes us to an alternate 20th century world, one in which city states “rise from the ashes” of WWI. That pitch alone is enticing, but Overseer Games also had the chops to back most of their ideas up.
There are solid city-building mechanics, engrossing industry-oriented systems, and warfare on a global scale that allows it to stand shoulder to shoulder with “true” grand strategy and 4X titles. It just represents a different approach to the strategy involved in those, all coupled with management sim elements that are smartly integrated. Definitely one of 2025’s most off-beat but interesting strategy games.
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