A strategy subgenre where you build a civilisation or empire. The term came from the genre’s common in-game actions: ‘explore, expand, exploit, exterminate.’

4X games usually give you many ways to ‘win’. In the Civilization series, for example, you can win by defeating rivals in warfare, politics, or cultural and technological milestones.

4X games can be either real-time or turn-based.

Genre examples include:

• Sid Meier’s Civilisation series
• Stellaris
• Stars in Shadow