The 4X games (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) are a subset of strategy games where you lead an entire nation or society through the ages. These games are incredibly fun and highly addictive. Anyone who has ever played a 4X game knows just how hard it is to stop. You set a boundary of one more turn, one more battle, one more building, or one more technology before you go to bed. Then, you play one more, and one more, and one more. Before you know it, it’s dawn outside, and your work starts in two hours. Still, why is this the case? Well, there are a lot of theories and potential explanations, but here are the top seven big arguments that might finally give you the answer about why you can’t stop playing 4x games.
1. You can play them on your own or online
The age when strategy games were mainstream online video games (like in the Starcraft and Starcraft II era) has long since vanished. Today, competitive online video games are mostly MOBAs, Battle Royale, FPS, or even occasional MMOs. This, on the other hand, means that the community for each of these games is substantially smaller… smaller, but existent.
Just think about it for a second: while strategy games did dominate the world of e-sports at one point, this was mostly the case for RTS games. In reality, 4X games were never designed for multiplayer, yet players always found a way to play.
First of all, servers for these games are often few and scattered across the globe. Sometimes, in order to access them, players will have to use VPNs and other tools. Common sections under lists of VPNs ranked by experts are filled with gamer discussions. According to specialist Aleksandar Stevanovic, these discussions matter since the choice of a VPN may actually determine the performance (lag) of any app (especially game) used. Players made their own multiplayer mods to balance the game and more. Overall, a lot of effort was put into making some games playable.
2. One-more turn phenomenon
One of the strongest reasons why these games are so incredibly fun is because of the one-more-turn phenomenon. You see, with each new turn, you complete an activity that will allow you to do something new.
You research a new technology that will allow you to build a new building, train a new unit, and occupy a coastal city. Once you’re there, you can start exploring the open seas, colonizing new regions, and getting access to new trade goods.
These actions have to be done in sequence, unlike in some other game genres. In an FPS, the only thing that’s different with a new gun is the rate of fire and damage. Here, you unlock an entirely new segment of the game, and you only need one more turn.
The comparison may feel odd, but while playing these 4X games, what you’re experiencing is actually quite similar to the reason people go back to anonymous casinos over and over again. The distance between one more turn and one more spin is not nearly as great as you think.
3. Gradual serotonin bumps
Imagine a shooter video game and the way in which you get serotonin from it. You feel pleased when you kill an opponent or when you win a round, but this happens so often and so frequently that the effect starts to fade, and you develop a sort of numbness toward it. With 4X games, these “rewards” take longer to materialize, but they come from different sources. Every time you train a unit, complete a mission, research a new technology, or create a settlement, you’ll get a slight serotonin bump. In a way, the game rewards you for playing in so many different ways. This also plays into the topic we discussed in a previous segment, where you need to complete a minor objective to do something else. With each action, you unlock the next segment of the game, and this feels rewarding in its own right.
4. Incredible comunity
These 4X games are not as prestigious or publicly acclaimed as some of their counterparts. People who are good at these games will not receive millions of dollars and international fame. This means that the entire motivation behind engaging in these games is intrinsic. People just love the game, and entire communities, although much smaller, are composed of enthusiasts.
People share tips and guides, make memes about the game, and even engage in hypothetical discussions about various in-game mechanics and strategies. Even someone who plays only casually can spend countless hours on various subreddits trying to find out as much as they can about the game. The amount of gatekeeping in these communities is also significantly lower, seeing as how they’re usually not toxic as their larger counterparts.
5. Adopting life-skills
Every video game has a life skill to teach you. Online competitive games, for instance, teach you the importance of teamwork and communication. Others test your reflexes and hand-to-eye coordination. With strategy games, these things go so much deeper. Sure, in every game where you have money or resources, you need to learn how to manage them. In 4X games, on the other hand, you have to learn the difference between long-term and short-term resource management and planning.
You also get to exercise decision-making and engage in both macro- and micro-management of your assets. These games are incredibly complex, which means that they require an incredible amount of dedication on your part.
6. Every game is new and unique
Strategy games have unlimited replayability. You see, some of the best games of other genres have the advantage of being incredibly immersive, but once you complete the main game, you have to take a break from it. Sure, online games are different, but 4X games (and strategy games, in general) are unique because they have infinite replayability even as a single player. Most of them have a lot of fractions, each with its own unique style. Good 4X games have multiple victory conditions and a lot of ways to win. For instance, instead of conquering the entire world, you can become a cultural or economic hegemon. Every time you start a game, you’re in for a completely different experience.
7. More aspects than any other game
Playing a 4X game often feels like playing so many different games at the same time. Sure, you have the four goals stated in the genre name as key objectives, but there are so many things to manage. You have to run an economy, manage the population, develop technology, choose military doctrines, engage in diplomacy and espionage, and much, much more.
In other words, it’s really hard to find a game genre where you’re expected to do more. Sure, some people would find this troublesome and hate the idea of having to think too hard while playing a game, but for the fans of the 4X genre, this is the charm of the game.
4X games are fun, engaging, and infinitely replayable
In the end, 4X games are a genre that doesn’t underestimate their audience. The creators of these games know that the more complex the games are, the more appealing they are to the game’s core audience. Even more importantly, the community is so strong and resourceful that they’ll solve and mod even around the flaws and shortcomings of these games.
