In Episode 41 of Critical Moves, Al, Joe, and Tim assess the state of 4X strategy gaming after the release of Endless Legend 2. The discussion asks if the genre is still locked into decades-old formulas or if innovation is possible through technology shifts and indie experimentation. Stellaris inevitably dominates the conversation, but so do failures like Humankind and the broader issue of whether “innovation” in 4X means anything more than surface-level gimmicks.
What Makes 4X Different?
Tim argues that exploration is the defining difference between 4X and grand strategy. 4X games start from nothing and grow outward; grand strategy drops players into pre-built historical contexts. Victory conditions reinforce this divide. 4X games push conquest even when other win conditions exist. Grand strategy, by contrast, lets players pursue diverse goals without pushing them toward extermination.
Endless Legend 2 and the Gimmick Problem
Amplitude’s tidefall mechanic, where oceans drain to reveal land, looks interesting but doesn’t change how the game plays. It’s cosmetic novelty disguised as innovation. The team points out this is a recurring issue: developers layering flashy mechanics over the same structure instead of addressing deeper design problems.
Amplitude’s track record doesn’t help. Humankind promised a “Civ killer” but collapsed under its own faction-switching system, which undermined narrative continuity and failed to hook players. It highlights a broader tension: innovation that alienates the core audience isn’t innovation, it’s self-sabotage.
Stellaris and Its Limits
The hosts try to avoid talking about Stellaris but fail, which says everything about its market position. It dominates because it’s accessible, available on console, and offers role-playing hooks other games lack. Tim prefers Distant Worlds for its complexity, but admits Stellaris’s broader reach makes it untouchable commercially.
Al argues Stellaris won’t be beaten by design but by tech. Its old codebase causes slowdown and late-game lag, problems that only a new engine with modern threading can fix. The real “next big thing” in 4X will come from technical performance, not clever mechanics.
Combat as the Weak Link
Combat remains undercooked across the genre. Most 4X titles treat it as an afterthought, and even Age of Wonders, with its tactical focus, falls short compared to genres built on fighting. The group suggests that meaningful investment in combat design could finally give 4X military gameplay worth caring about.
Hybrid approaches get floated too. Total War shows that blending turn-based empire-building with real-time battles can work, but whether that model belongs in 4X is still an open question.
Story, Role-Play, and Connection
Narrative has always been the genre’s weak spot. Sandbox frameworks usually mean thin storytelling. Tim points to Crusader Kings as proof that character-driven play creates connection, while Joe argues better-written factions and smarter AI could make 4X less sterile.
Stellaris succeeds here again. It gives players identity by letting them inhabit philosophies and cultures, not just units on a map. The takeaway: 4X innovation might be less about mechanics and more about deepening role-play and identity.
Future Prospects
Indie developers get the most optimism. Modern engines like Unity and Unreal lower technical barriers, and small teams can take risks larger studios won’t. The hosts don’t expect a Stellaris killer tomorrow, but they see potential in long-term iteration – one generation of indie titles laying groundwork for the next.
Publishers like Microprose and Hooded Horse also come up. Their willingness to fund niche strategy games shows there’s commercial support for experimentation, even if the audience size isn’t mainstream. That competition among publishers might be the best path toward a healthier 4X ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
The genre isn’t dead, but it’s stagnant. Too many games bolt gimmicks onto old templates instead of rethinking fundamentals. Combat is shallow, storytelling is thin, and technical performance bottlenecks hold back even the most ambitious projects. Stellaris continues to dominate by being accessible and role-play friendly, but it’s also aging.
The hosts agree that the next leap won’t come from established studios recycling ideas. It’ll come from new engines, indie risk-taking, and publishers willing to back experiments. Until then, 4X remains stuck between commercial safety and the promise of something better.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or search your alternative preferred podcast provider.
Ahh, we're on YouTube too!
What Makes 4X Different?Tim argues that exploration is the defining difference between 4X and grand strategy. 4X games start from nothing and grow outward; grand strategy drops players into pre-built historical contexts. Victory conditions reinforce this divide. 4X games push conquest even when other win conditions exist. Grand strategy, by contrast, lets players pursue diverse goals without pushing them toward extermination.
Endless Legend 2 and the Gimmick ProblemAmplitude’s tidefall mechanic, where oceans drain to reveal land, looks interesting but doesn’t change how the game plays. It’s cosmetic novelty disguised as innovation. The team points out this is a recurring issue: developers layering flashy mechanics over the same structure instead of addressing deeper design problems.
Amplitude’s track record doesn’t help. Humankind promised a “Civ killer” but collapsed under its own faction-switching system, which undermined narrative continuity and failed to hook players. It highlights a broader tension: innovation that alienates the core audience isn’t innovation, it’s self-sabotage.
Stellaris and Its LimitsThe hosts try to avoid talking about Stellaris but fail, which says everything about its market position. It dominates because it’s accessible, available on console, and offers role-playing hooks other games lack. Tim prefers Distant Worlds for its complexity, but admits Stellaris’s broader reach makes it untouchable commercially.
Al argues Stellaris won’t be beaten by design but by tech. Its old codebase causes slowdown and late-game lag, problems that only a new engine with modern threading can fix. The real “next big thing” in 4X will come from technical performance, not clever mechanics.
Combat as the Weak LinkCombat remains undercooked across the genre. Most 4X titles treat it as an afterthought, and even Age of Wonders, with its tactical focus, falls short compared to genres built on fighting. The group suggests that meaningful investment in combat design could finally give 4X military gameplay worth caring about.
Hybrid approaches get floated too. Total War shows that blending turn-based empire-building with real-time battles can work, but whether that model belongs in 4X is still an open question.
Story, Role-Play, and ConnectionNarrative has always been the genre’s weak spot. Sandbox frameworks usually mean thin storytelling. Tim points to Crusader Kings as proof that character-driven play creates connection, while Joe argues better-written factions and smarter AI could make 4X less sterile.
Stellaris succeeds here again. It gives players identity by letting them inhabit philosophies and cultures, not just units on a map. The takeaway: 4X innovation might be less about mechanics and more about deepening role-play and identity.
Future ProspectsIndie developers get the most optimism. Modern engines like Unity and Unreal lower technical barriers, and small teams can take risks larger studios won’t. The hosts don’t expect a Stellaris killer tomorrow, but they see potential in long-term iteration – one generation of indie titles laying groundwork for the next.
Publishers like Microprose and Hooded Horse also come up. Their willingness to fund niche strategy games shows there’s commercial support for experimentation, even if the audience size isn’t mainstream. That competition among publishers might be the best path toward a healthier 4X ecosystem.
Final ThoughtsThe genre isn’t dead, but it’s stagnant. Too many games bolt gimmicks onto old templates instead of rethinking fundamentals. Combat is shallow, storytelling is thin, and technical performance bottlenecks hold back even the most ambitious projects. Stellaris continues to dominate by being accessible and role-play friendly, but it’s also aging.
The hosts agree that the next leap won’t come from established studios recycling ideas. It’ll come from new engines, indie risk-taking, and publishers willing to back experiments. Until then, 4X remains stuck between commercial safety and the promise of something better.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or search your alternative preferred podcast provider.
Ahh, we're on YouTube too!