Mechanic Monday - Episode 1 - 4x/3x games
Mechanic Mondays will be a series where we take a look at a game mechanic. We'll talk about the mechanic and share some games that include this mechanic as part of their game-play.
Today's episode is all about 4x/3x games. We will Exterminate, Expand, Exploit, and Explore our way through this.
Today's episode is all about 4x/3x games. We will Exterminate, Expand, Exploit, and Explore our way through this.
What is 3x/4x?
Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate
4x games stand for Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate. The games with this mechanic in it usually have elements of exploring a map, expanding an empire, exploit the territories or areas, and exterminating other players. The 3x games fall into this category as well. The themes in mechanics are similar with missing one of the Ex’s that make the 4x games.
Games that include this mechanic!
Alien Artifacts from Portal Games
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From Portal Games Alien Artifacts is a card game where players are sending research vessels into uncharted space. They are trying to expand their knowledge of power. They build powerful ships, and upgrade their technology. It’s a combination of 4x and engine building.
Alien Artifacts plays 2-5 players, playtime is about 60 min, it’s published by Portal Games. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181293/alien-artifacts https://portalgames.pl/en/ |
Tiny Epic Kingdoms from Gamelyn Games
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Tiny Epic Kingdoms is a 4x game where players are trying to expand their kingdoms and be the person with the most victory points through conquering territories in a fantasy themed game. Tiny Epic Kingdoms plays 2-5 players, playtime is about 30-45 minutes and it is published by Gamelyn Games.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/148951/tiny-epic-kingdoms https://www.gamelyngames.com/ |
Tiny Epic Galaxies from Gamelyn Games
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Another one from Gamelyn Games. Tiny Epic Galaxies is a great space game. Players compete to explore the galaxy and follow other players actions to get the most victory points at the end. Tiny Epic Galaxies was featured on Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop. Tiny Epic Galaxies plays 1 - 5 players, play time is about 30 - 45 minutes. Published by Gamelyn Games.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/163967/tiny-epic-galaxies https://www.gamelyngames.com/ |
Dice Settlers from NSKN Games
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Settle the new world as players expand their people, advance their technologies. Starting off with a small parchment of land, a few families, and a limited resources. Dice Settlers is a civilization dice game which takes the 4x mechanic and includes pool building, resource gathering and area control. Dice Settlers plays 1-4 players with a playtime of 45-60 minutes. Published by NSKN Games.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230267/dice-settlers https://www.nskn.net/ |
New Dawn from Artipia Games and Stronghold Games
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A sequel to the popular Among The Stars. Players explore the galaxy and advance technology in order to expand their empires. Players are in charge of reviving a galactic sector. The game includes hand management, tile placement, and dice rolling. It plays 2-4 players with a play time of about 90-120 minutes.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135654/new-dawn http://strongholdgames.com/ |
Dominant Species from GMT Games
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Players play as one of six major animal classes mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian, arachnid, or insect. Beginning the game there is balance. It quickly becomes a survival of the fittest as players strive to become the dominant species.
This game plays 2-6 players with a play time of about 120-240 minutes. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62219/dominant-species https://www.gmtgames.com/ |
Twilight Imperium from Fantasy Flight Games
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A classic and more well known game on our list is Twilight Imperium. This game is massive with a solid 4x strategy built into it. Players compete to conquer the galaxy. There are seventeen factions available for players to choose from. Players will show their military might, political maneuvering, and economic strategies. This is a hefty game but is a lot of fun.
Plays 3-6 players run time of about 240-480 minutes. Although I have seen games last overnight. A group of guys were playing this at a friendly local game cafe. They started in the afternoon on saturday, and they finished the game sunday an hour before the store closed. Granted there was a period between about 2am to 11am where the store was closed. Holy smokes can this one take a lot of time. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/index/ |
Heroes of Land Air and Sea from Gamelyn Games
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Another game from Gamelyn Games. This one features a miniature warfare of orcs vs humans, dwarves vs elves and battling kingdoms. Who will shift the war to their favor? Players choose one of these factions and compete to expand their kingdoms.
This is one that has quite a few expansions to choose from. It plays 1-4 players with a playtime of about 120-180 minutes. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/198830/heroes-land-air-sea https://www.gamelyngames.com/ |
Scythe from Stonemaier Games
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This steampunk inspired 4x game is rich with artwork and strategy. This one has been one that I enjoy playing because of the depth but it did take me a few plays to get used to it. It’s an engine building game set in an alternate history 1920s. Players will set their engines forward building farms, or building machines in order to advance their territory control over the board. It’s another hefty game that takes up quite a bit of space.
Scythe plays 1-5 players with a play time of about 90-115 minutes. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169786/scythe https://stonemaiergames.com/games/scythe/ |
My Little Scythe from Stonemaier Games
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One cannot mention Scythe without mentioning My Little Scythe. My Little Scythe is a lighter version of Scythe with colorful characters and game artwork to match. The gameplay is a little simpler to play than regular scythe. My Little Scythe plays 1-6 players with a play time of about 45-60 minutes.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/226320/my-little-scythe https://stonemaiergames.com/games/scythe/ |
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Star Trek Ascendancy from Gale Force Nine
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By far one of my favorite games on this list is Star Trek Ascendancy. This is a great game set in the Star Trek universe. Players choose one of the factions available. They explore the galaxy looking for means to gather resources and expand their empires. The great part about this one is the universe is ever changing. When you start out you have the homeworlds and that’s it. When you go into warp and come out depending on the speed you have available you draw a new region of space to explore. This could be a civilized planet or a dangerous nebula. Balancing resources and economics until you can gain the victory conditions to win is key. The base game comes with the Federation, the Romulans, and my favorites the Klingons. Quapla! Expansion factions are available with the Ferengi, Cardassians, Andorians, and Vulcans. The Borg are also available in an expansion to make the game even more challenging. This one is great! This one plays 3 players with a play time of about 180 Minutes. Though with other factions we have played this with 5 players without any issue.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193949/star-trek-ascendancy www.gf9.com/ |
What do you think of our list? Have you played any of these titles? What are some 4x/3x games that you have played that we should check out?
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Be sure to keep your fluids full, check those tire pressures, Always know where your towel is, be kind to one another, and Play More Games!
Follow Overland Gamer https://www.facebook.com/groups/OverlandGamer on Facebook and let us know what you think.
Follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/overlandgamer
Be sure to keep your fluids full, check those tire pressures, Always know where your towel is, be kind to one another, and Play More Games!
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