The best games with the 4x mechanism 2023

Looking for a really good game with 4x mechanism? Then we have just the thing for you: The list with the best 4X games 2023.

What are 4X (mechanism) games?

In this list you will find games, expansions, promos, etc. that use a 4X mechanism in gameplay, not just in pictures or the theme.

4X games are a growing family of games connected by 4 categories of gameplay, all of which are crucial elements of the game:

  • eXplore
    Exploring the map with units, revealing the terrain of the area or something significant hidden in the area. What is uncovered will affect the game now and/or later.
  • eXpand
    Expand the size of your territory by claiming areas on the map. Gaining or losing territory will affect the game.
  • eXploit
    Exploit the occupied territories by improving them, gaining some/or using the territory to increase your units and/or power. These 3 things (improve, gain, and use) can happen in any order.
  • eXterminate
    Eliminate other players with units (which can also be lost) from the game. It does not have to be very likely that a player can be eliminated from the game - only possible.

If it is impossible to eliminate a player from the game, but everything else (including combat) is like a 4X, the game is called a 3.5X.

The four Xs do not have to happen separately or one after the other.... they can be combined and happen at the same time. However, in a 4X game, all four Xs will enter.

Since all territories will eventually be claimed, attacking and/or eliminating the presence of a rival may be the only way to achieve further expansion.

List with the best games 2023, with 4x mechanism:

This list was last updated on June 1, 2023. We compared 98 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Scythe

    All details for the board game Scythe and similar games

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 10.

    More details for Scythe
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 115 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!74€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Scythe

    • YouTube Review for the game "Scythe" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 200 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    🔥 Great price!115€ atAmazon.de
  3. Rise of Tribes

    All details for the board game Rise of Tribes and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Rise of Tribes

    • YouTube Review for the game "Rise of Tribes" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  4. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    All details for the board game Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 240 - 480 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    👍 Good price!122€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  5. Barony

    All details for the board game Barony and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Barony

    • YouTube Review for the game "Barony" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition

    All details for the board game Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    🔥 Great price!109€ atAmazon.de
  7. Star Trek: Ascendancy

    All details for the board game Star Trek: Ascendancy and similar games
    • 3 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  8. Eclipse

    All details for the board game Eclipse and similar games

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 7.

    More details for Eclipse
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    🔥 Great price!115€ atAmazon.de
  9. Tiny Epic Kingdoms

    All details for the board game Tiny Epic Kingdoms and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Tiny Epic Kingdoms
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  10. Forbidden Stars

    All details for the board game Forbidden Stars and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Forbidden Stars
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Forbidden Stars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Forbidden Stars" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Empires: Age of Discovery

    All details for the board game Empires: Age of Discovery and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 50 - 150 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Space Empires 4X

    All details for the board game Space Empires 4X and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Space Empires 4X
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  13. March of the Ants

    All details for the board game March of the Ants and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 70 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  14. Conquest of Paradise

    All details for the board game Conquest of Paradise and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. Civilization: A New Dawn

    All details for the board game Civilization: A New Dawn and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    👍 Good price!40€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Civilization: A New Dawn

    • YouTube Review for the game "Civilization: A New Dawn" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Heroes of Land, Air & Sea

    All details for the board game Heroes of Land, Air & Sea and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  17. Dominant Species

    All details for the board game Dominant Species and similar games

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for Dominant Species
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  18. Clash of Cultures

    All details for the board game Clash of Cultures and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Clash of Cultures
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
    🔥 Great price!109€ atAmazon.de
  19. Runewars

    All details for the board game Runewars and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Runewars
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  20. Imperial Stars II

    All details for the board game Imperial Stars II and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  21. Galaxy Command

    All details for the board game Galaxy Command and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 10 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  22. Empires of the Void II

    All details for the board game Empires of the Void II and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 180 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  23. Dice Settlers

    All details for the board game Dice Settlers and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Dice Settlers
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Dice Settlers

    • YouTube Review for the game "Dice Settlers" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  24. Horizons

    All details for the board game Horizons and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 75 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game

    All details for the board game Sid Meier's Civilization: The Board Game and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 120 - 240 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  26. Impulse

    All details for the board game Impulse and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  27. Master of the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Master of the Galaxy and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Alien Artifacts

    All details for the board game Alien Artifacts and similar games

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Alien Artifacts
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
    🔥 Great price!12€ atAmazon.de

    Video reviews for Alien Artifacts

    • YouTube Review for the game "Alien Artifacts" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  29. Galactic Emperor

    All details for the board game Galactic Emperor and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Galactic Emperor
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. New Dawn

    All details for the board game New Dawn and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

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