Space Empires IV

Space Empires is a long-running 4X series that, over the years, has been expanded, improved, and brought to a high level of polish by a small team that works collaboratively with its many fans, enlisting their contributions in testing and refinement. In other words, it's among the best in its genre.

The most striking aspect of the game is the sheer number of options: a huge tech tree, a vast number of ship types and the ability to design your own, many different alien races, and the ability to twiddle with a large number of starting parameters--as well as more than 200MB of fan-created mods that come with the full game. In other words, there's enough in this game to keep you busy for--well, forever, essentially.

The graphics are not exactly triple-A, but the virtue of this type of game lies in its strategic depth, not pretty pitchers, and the graphics are quite adequate for the job.

If you enjoy 4X games, or are interested in seeing what they're about, there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't take a look at SEIV. Unless, perhaps, you want to wait for V, which the Malfador team is currently working on....

The Developer Says

The award-winning Space Empires IV Deluxe is the latest edition in the Space Empires series. A grand strategy title in the space 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) genre, Space Empires has already found a place in the heart of strategy gamers everywhere. The Space Empires Deluxe Edition adds all the latest tweaks and upgrades to Space Empires IV.

You can research technology, design new ships, wage war on a tactical level, put down rebellions, meet and greet new species, and much more. Additionally, all the level and campaign design tools are included; allowing anyone to become apart of the expansive Space Empires mod community.

• Award-winning Game, Fourth game in the best-selling Space Empires Series.
  
• TCP/IP game play as well as traditional Play by Email, Play By Web, Play By Instant Messenger.
  
• Turn-based game system with simultaneous turn execution or classic IGOUGO mode.
  
• Twenty unique races that can be customized or originally created.
  
• Ministers to help control the degree of micromanagent.
  
• A massive technology tree with hundreds of levels to research.
  
• Over 1500 planets to be discovered.
  
• Detailed ship design via components.
  
• The ability to design ships, mines, satellites, weapon platforms, fighters, troops, drones, and bases.
  
• Combat plays out in either strategic or tactical modes.
  
• Random events make each game unique.
  
• Adventuresome Political system that provides for a unique gaming experience.
  
• Over 200MB of user created mods.
  

"Space Empires IV does an excellent job of providing the detail-happy player with an engrossing and engaging game. Players with shorter attention spans are better off looking elsewhere, though."
   - The Gamers' Temple

"If you're interested in turn-based 4X space strategy, you can't go wrong with Space Empires IV Gold."
   - The Armchair Empire

"...they don't get much better than this."
   - Strategy Gaming Online

"The depth of thought that went into the design of the game shows in the intricate gameplay and excellent handling of tricky areas such as diplomacy and espionage. The resource-management and city-growth aspects of the game are well-designed and give you good control over your empire without excessive micromanagement."
   - Neoseeker

Awards:

Strategy Game of the Year 2000
   - The Wargamer

Best Turn-based Strategy Game of 2000
   - Strategy Gaming Online