Beginner 4X game

[Tempuwu]

I know 4X games tend to have a large and lengthy learning curve for players so I was wondering if AOW4 would be a good intro game to the genre for a beginner to learn the ins and out of it.

I also have Endless space 1/2, Endless Legend, Civ 6, Warhammer Gladius, and Stellaris if those may be better options

[Outis]

Yes, AoW4 is very approachable for beginners. You can play on Easy to make it even more so.

Although I would say that AoW4 isn't a true 4X game. It is more of a hybrid game. It melds a 4X strategy layer with a tactics combat layer. It is like having 2 games in 1.

It is a great game and highly recommended

[blackhand_lost]

It's more fast-paced and approachable, I recommend to try it out, but I'm not sure how well it's going to prepare you for other games from your list

[Gundalf]

The economoy is relatively simple and easy to learn compared to most other 4x games. The main appeal of the game is the combat which almost happens every turn as there are a lot of neutral armies around the map, which can be defeated for resources. So the Exploit part of 4x is much more important here and your army actually produces/plunders ressources, unlike Civ or Stellaris.

[Azunai]

Civ is much easier

[✧Starshadow Melody✧]

Originally posted by Azunai:

Civ is much easier

yeah but it's also blander.

[TirAsleen]

Its a very good beginner friendly game on relaxed difficulty and no umbral realms and no presence rulers.

It does have another layer to learn - tactical combat- but its not too hard and turn based so you can take your time.

Sure Civ6 is also kinda beginner friendly, but has bloated eco and the average turn there is over 200 turns, while its about 100 turns in AoW4 to finish a large map.

I know from expierence, that new players in the 4X genre might have an issue of the slow pacing and not really the mechanics. A shorter sandbox might make more sense.

Besides AoW4 looks much better than Civ6.

TBF, CiV6 is a much older game too, almost as old as AoW3.

Looking at smooth detailed graphics for around 100 turns is easier, than -ugly kid style graphic for over 200 turns -

In my very opinion.

[Olleus]

You don't need a beginner 4X game to play the others. All the ones you mention have enough tutorials (although I don't know about Gladius) that you can simply play them.

That's the beauty of turn based games, you're not in a rush. That means you don't need to build up instincts, reflexes, and muscle memory to be good. All it takes is a little patience and the willingness to read. Will you be good? No, not at the start. But so what? Play single player in easy difficult and you'll learn. Save and reload to try things out. Look up on wiki or the boards if you're confused about something.

Honestly for most strategy game the learning curve *is* the fun. Once you've mastered the game, cheesing the AI on high difficulty gets old fast. Starting from the bottom of the skill ladder just means you get to enjoy the fun for longer :)

[Etherlight]

I'd say AOW4 is more of a war game with some 4X element thrown into it, it is not a true 4x game compares to Civilization series. So if you are looking for a true 4x experience you might be dissapointed.

[⎝Wyrd Deofol⎠]

Es2 was my first true 4x game. I find AoW4 much more approachable, mainly due to how it handles research and the UI.

[TirAsleen]

Originally posted by Etherlight:

I'd say AOW4 is more of a war game with some 4X element thrown into it, it is not a true 4x game compares to Civilization series. So if you are looking for a true 4x experience you might be dissapointed.

In the mid 90ies i compared Civ2 directly with MoO2. Microprose even sold them in a box together at one point.

[Sifer2]

It is simpler to manage your city/Empire compared to other 4X like Civ. It's combat is much more in depth though being another small turn based tactics game within the game. I would say it's all beginner friendly though.

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by Etherlight:

I'd say AOW4 is more of a war game with some 4X element thrown into it, it is not a true 4x game compares to Civilization series. So if you are looking for a true 4x experience you might be dissapointed.

I think it's fair to consider it a 4x (earlier ones less so, AoW 1 had basically nonexistent city management)

There's just the general divide between economic 4x games and military 4x games.

Something like Civ (or most Paradox games) will have really involved economic/city management and tech and less focus on combat. Something like Sword of the Stars, Master of Orion 1, Total War etc can have very minimal economic management and more focus on expanding and exterminating. And since master of orion 1 is where the 4x name comes from, it's definitely one.

[easytarget]

And you can play MOO for free by simply downloading RotP:

https://rayfowler.itch.io/remnants-of-the-precursors

[Boshedo]

Anybody play Galactic Civilization 4? I was looking into getting it but no luck on the message boards. Would be nice to find people to play with. I’m new to the 4K genre games so would be cool to find some mature players. I have this game and stellaris, etc.

[6h0$t942]

Warlock master of the arcane is neat and beginnerish.