7 – Endless Legend
I think that Endless Legend is going to remain a fan-favorite 4X, and that has as much to do with its fantastic world-building, distinct and asymmetrical factions, and combat engine as much as it has with the fact that it came out at a time when no other 4X was attempting to innovate at that level. Endless Legend quite literally opened this genre up for innovation, and still remains a definitive fantasy 4X game that continues to captivate players in 2025, even a decade after its release. This, combined with its stunning art style, narrative-driven quest system, and expansive DLC library, makes Endless Legend a timeless classic that is still one of the most complete and creatively rich fantasy strategy games on the market today. Endless Legend 2 is coming out soon, so I’m extremely curious to know how it’s going to fare, and how the community is going to react to it. I have very high expectations, and I’m sure most of you do too!
6 – Old World
Designed by the lead of Civilization IV, Old World came out as a fresh and compelling take on the historical 4X genre that has cemented its place in 2025. The game’s innovative “Orders” system, which gives players a shared resource for all actions, creates a fast-paced, chess-like quality that forces meaningful decisions every turn. This, along with its deep family dynasty mechanics and dynamic event system, makes Old World a historical strategy game with a focus on personal stories and long-term consequences that is a clear and powerful alternative to the Civilization series for players who are looking for a 4X that also has a tinge of Crusader Kings to it. The game has a lot of DLC too, and a lot of new updates and patches are constantly coming out. With its Hooded Horse seal of quality, Old World is quite possibly the best Historical 4X available.
5 – Dominions 6: Rise of the Pantokrator
I don’t think anyone would dare to make a case against the fact that Dominions 6: Rise of the Pantokrator is the deepest and most complex fantasy 4X game available in 2025, and quite possibly of all time. This game-as-a-wargame puts you in the role of a pretender god vying for control of the world, with an absurd amount of content, including hundreds of spells, over a thousand units, and a new “Glamour” magic path. While its graphics are intentionally retro, its unparalleled strategic depth and a plethora of quality-of-life updates make it the ultimate challenge for players who want to lose themselves in a fantasy world of strategic conquest. There’s so much in here that just experiencing the whole content would take you years of dedicated playing, and that’s not even counting the aspect of mastery. There’s also a very dedicated multiplayer community, so if you’re into that, I would highly recommend it.
Leave a Reply