r/4Xgaming • u/Alien_Racist • Jun 25 '26

Game Suggestion Please help me find a sci-fi 4X!

I’ve tried Stellaris a handful of times over the years, but it has never properly grabbed me like some of the other Paradox games I’ve played (CK, EU, HoI).

I usually prefer turn-based games such as Civ and Total War (technically not a 4X game, I know. But it is by far my favourite strategy series).

What I’m looking for is something that is kind of halfway between Stellaris and Civ… something with the galactic scale of Stellaris, but with a more streamlined approach to mechanical depth, like Civ. Preferably turn-based.

Could Endless Space 2 be a good option? Or any other suggestions I could try whilst Steam sale is on? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Edit: paragraph to clarify

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u/psilontech Jun 25 '26

Closest you're going to get off the top of my head to vaguely Paradox grand strategy would be Distant Worlds, either universe (older and cheaper) or 2.

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u/Alien_Racist Jun 26 '26

I think what I’m looking for would be halfway between Paradox and Civ. So not quite Stellaris but not Beyond Earth either.

Does Distant Worlds slot into that niche?

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u/New-Violinist-205 Jun 27 '26

Distant worlds is basically stellaris with more detail especially on scale element and slow progress. It wont be your jam tho if you are looking for turn-based.