I'm in the mood for some space 4x gaming, but I haven't really followed the space (ahem) for a while. I know I had a great time with Masters of Orion years back; and I'm pretty sure that I'm not quite up for ramping up on another Paradox game right now so Stellaris is probably out.
Is there anything out there taking place in a Dune/ 40K / Fading Suns type setting (i.e. multiple human factions instead of aliens)? Not that that's a requirement, but it'd be cool.
Any recommendations? Even more bonus points (even if unlikely) if playable on a steam deck...
Quote from: Jacob on March 09, 2025, 06:10:24 PMI'm in the mood for some space 4x gaming, but I haven't really followed the space (ahem) for a while. I know I had a great time with Masters of Orion years back; and I'm pretty sure that I'm not quite up for ramping up on another Paradox game right now so Stellaris is probably out.
Is there anything out there taking place in a Dune/ 40K / Fading Suns type setting (i.e. multiple human factions instead of aliens)? Not that that's a requirement, but it'd be cool.
Any recommendations? Even more bonus points (even if unlikely) if playable on a steam deck...
Doesn't the Endless Space game meet those requirements, iirc the 20-30 hours I had on it, played like that?
Endless space is aliens, with one human faction.
But it is fun. Just don't get the last DLC.
Fading Suns got a big patch for its 20th anniversary if that's your mood. :P
For something against the grain, there's Stellar Monarch II in which you manage your star empire and try to manage internal struggles while expanding. More of a board game feel, though.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1437750/Stellar_Monarch_2/
And of course Star Dynasties. Kind of like CK in space, but with more of a focus on assigning characters to tasks etc. than personal interactions. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1194590/Star_Dynasties/
Addendum: Chaos Galaxy I & II is kind of a Romance of the Three Kingdoms type game in space.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1184840/Chaos_Galaxy/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1537910/Chaos_Galaxy_2/
Digging a bit through Steam, there's also Solar Nations II, which is I guess kinds EU in the solar system? It looks fairly dense, though :D https://store.steampowered.com/app/2275440/Solar_Nations_2/
Haven't seen any games that ticks these boxes in a while. Your wishlist somehow reminds of Sins of a Solar Empire, which I had very much liked at the time, but the game had its own peculiar quirks and I'm not sure it's for everyone.
The second opus was released last year, but I haven't looked at it and I don't know how much they changed mechanics compared to the first. Das Tactics made a video about it recently if you want to look into it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyU7CcvZDTU
Otherwise, I have recently played Distant Worlds 2. It is quite good, but it has aliens. That said, you can probably set it to only have human factions. The tempo is different than usual 4X games and you can choose your level of micro-management as many tasks can be automated. Your budget also depends a lot on how much your private economy spend in your shipyard which is rather rare.
Otherwise, I would recommend Shadow Empire. But it's science fiction 4X, not a space 4X. The game lets you play a major faction battling to take control of a decivilized planet, while also having to deal with aggressive local faunas and independant factions. I wish I had more time to play that one.
Incidentally, these are all games that have been well covered by Das Tactics.
I am glad you mentioned Shadow Empire. I still think it is the best strategy game ever made.
Quote from: Syt on March 10, 2025, 12:18:23 AMFor something against the grain, there's Stellar Monarch II in which you manage your star empire and try to manage internal struggles while expanding. More of a board game feel, though.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1437750/Stellar_Monarch_2/
Looks interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.
Quote from: Syt on March 10, 2025, 12:33:02 AMDigging a bit through Steam, there's also Solar Nations II, which is I guess kinds EU in the solar system? It looks fairly dense, though :D https://store.steampowered.com/app/2275440/Solar_Nations_2/
Damn you, damn you to hell. I downloaded this yesterday evening, and didn't get to bed until well after midnight :D
edit Oops, I meant the Stellar Monarch II game.
Quote from: Jacob on March 09, 2025, 06:10:24 PMI'm in the mood for some space 4x gaming, but I haven't really followed the space (ahem) for a while. I know I had a great time with Masters of Orion years back; and I'm pretty sure that I'm not quite up for ramping up on another Paradox game right now so Stellaris is probably out.
Is there anything out there taking place in a Dune/ 40K / Fading Suns type setting (i.e. multiple human factions instead of aliens)? Not that that's a requirement, but it'd be cool.
Any recommendations? Even more bonus points (even if unlikely) if playable on a steam deck...
Galactic Civilizations III or IV, but not in Dune universe.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 11, 2025, 01:57:43 PMQuote from: Syt on March 10, 2025, 12:33:02 AMDigging a bit through Steam, there's also Solar Nations II, which is I guess kinds EU in the solar system? It looks fairly dense, though :D https://store.steampowered.com/app/2275440/Solar_Nations_2/
Damn you, damn you to hell. I downloaded this yesterday evening, and didn't get to bed until well after midnight :D
edit Oops, I meant the Stellar Monarch II game.
:D
Quote from: viper37 on March 11, 2025, 02:42:12 PMGalactic Civilizations III or IV, but not in Dune universe.
I stopped at GalCiv I :D As much as I love the first, I couldn't get into the follow ups.
If Jacob wants a throwback, he can also try to find SpaceWard Ho! It was a lot of fun for 10 year old me. Found out decades later that some people had kept the game alive. It's basic, but it still scratch that hitch for me :D
I loved II and III. IV is buggy for me so I can't finish my game. :(
IV is much better than iii or II IMHO. But there is something about the galciv format that kind of exhaust me, I am not sure.
Quote from: Tamas on March 11, 2025, 03:46:46 PMIV is much better than iii or II IMHO. But there is something about the galciv format that kind of exhaust me, I am not sure.
I think its the repetition. Once you figure out what you are supposed to do, you do that over and over again.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 11, 2025, 03:51:26 PMQuote from: Tamas on March 11, 2025, 03:46:46 PMIV is much better than iii or II IMHO. But there is something about the galciv format that kind of exhaust me, I am not sure.
I think its the repetition. Once you figure out what you are supposed to do, you do that over and over again.
Yeah, you are probably right.
Was Starsector already suggested? There are no aliens in that one.
Quote from: dist on March 11, 2025, 04:19:18 PMWas Starsector already suggested? There are no aliens in that one.
It's not been suggested, it's good and it has some damn good mods too
Which mods would you recommend? I haven't played it modded, but the last playthrough by Rhadamant with the Ashes of the Domain mod looked rather good.
I'm currently using Nexerelin with Industrial Evolution, Grand Colonies, Better Colonies and Terraforming and Station construction.
That gives me sufficient fun when I'm playing it which is less often than I'd like (but all the rest of my games sidetrack me constantly) :p
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 12, 2025, 12:36:48 PMQuote from: dist on March 11, 2025, 04:19:18 PMWas Starsector already suggested? There are no aliens in that one.
It's not been suggested, it's good and it has some damn good mods too
I couldn't find it on steam... because it's not on steam.
On the website it says it's "early access". How complete a game experience is it?
I played a rather long game a year or two ago. So for me, the game experience is rather complete. At least to make an enjoyable experience. But it's perhaps missing some later game content and better factions dynamics and diplomacy, which Nexerelin is supposed to add.
You can give a look at the playthrough (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHqSuWJSw8SBWG-l4vlUG4H9pj5-CUSP-)I was mentioning, it will give you an idea of the overall gameplay. I think Rhadamant also have an older vanilla playthrough on his channel.
The interesting take of the game on the genre is that you start as a nobody ship captain and have to earn enough income (and defence fleet) to be able to establish your first colonies and protect your faction.
Quote from: Jacob on March 12, 2025, 03:37:04 PMQuote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on March 12, 2025, 12:36:48 PMQuote from: dist on March 11, 2025, 04:19:18 PMWas Starsector already suggested? There are no aliens in that one.
It's not been suggested, it's good and it has some damn good mods too
I couldn't find it on steam... because it's not on steam.
On the website it says it's "early access". How complete a game experience is it?
it's been in a very playable state for over 10 years iirc (bought my copy in 2011). How complete it really is I can't say, but I'm guessing very complete.
Emperor of the Fading Suns will receive another major update and additionally come to Steam on April 4th.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2799350/Emperor_of_the_Fading_Suns_Enhanced/