DR4X

About

DR4X is a single player casual turn-based strategy game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Untrustedlife and was released on June 25, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

"DR4X is a fast-paced, turn-based 4X strategy game with assymetric factions and chaotic gameplay, offering a story-rich campaign with five endings and a customizable skirmish mode. The game features unique faction-specific goals, fully voiced briefings, and an original soundtrack. Pet a dog and explore endless strategic choices in this indie gem."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

DR4X offers a unique and quirky take on the 4X genre, with asymmetric factions and a fast-paced gameplay that encourages experimentation and replayability.
The game features a charming art style and humorous voice acting, creating an engaging atmosphere that sets it apart from traditional strategy games.
With a variety of customization options and procedural generation, no two matches feel the same, providing a refreshing experience for fans of strategy games.

The user interface can be clunky and difficult to navigate, which may pose a challenge for new players and detracts from the overall experience.
Some players may find the mechanics too shallow compared to more complex 4X titles, leading to a lack of long-term depth and engagement.
The randomness in gameplay can lead to frustrating experiences, as early misfortunes can snowball into unavoidable defeats.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The graphics of the game feature a unique blend of low-poly models and bold, comic-like elements that create a distinct, offbeat atmosphere, though they may not compete with high-budget titles. While some players appreciate the charming art style and its nostalgic vibes, others criticize the simplicity and occasional graphical glitches that detract from gameplay. Overall, the visuals evoke a campy, Lovecraftian aesthetic that resonates with certain audiences, despite concerns over readability and presentation.
- “The art style is a mixture of low-poly models and bold comic-like elements, which, while simple, fit the offbeat atmosphere.”
- “It’s not trying to compete with the grand narratives or realistic aesthetics of big-budget games; instead, it carves its own niche by being strange, campy, and memorable.”
- “The design, graphic style, this unique atmosphere needs to be seen and appreciated.”
- “It seems that you reevaluated graphical style much over the readability.”
- “I love your art style, but at this moment it is on the edge of unplayability.”
- “Where the game is let down is in its presentation and graphics.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay features asymmetric factions with distinct mechanics, offering a mix of direct combat and unconventional strategies, which creates a varied and accessible experience. While the systems may feel simplistic to genre veterans, the campaign's theatrical elements and unique faction abilities provide a satisfying depth. Overall, the gameplay is engaging, though it may lack balance and complexity for more experienced players.
- “The core structure revolves around asymmetric factions, each of which feels distinct not only in aesthetics but in how they operate mechanically.”
- “Some lean heavily into direct combat, while others introduce more unconventional strategies like rituals, resource manipulation, or subtle expansion mechanics.”
- “This multifaceted experience is reflected in the gameplay itself.”
- “Because the systems are intentionally pared back, veterans of the genre might find the mechanics shallow once they’ve mastered the available factions and strategies.”
- “Despite the fact that it borrows heavily from strategy games, the gameplay is extremely simple.”
- “While featuring the same gameplay, the noderooms introduce liminal exploration elements in a 4x format, which probably sounds wildly out of place.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's story is characterized by a complex, postmodern narrative that unfolds through missions on a hexagonal grid, shrouded in fog of war and filled with hidden secrets. Players can achieve unconventional victories, but the high difficulty level may challenge them. As the game is in early access, additional missions and evolving narrative elements, including an alternate reality game (ARG), are expected to enhance the experience further.
- “In keeping with the game's vision, there are secrets hidden within missions.”
- “And then things get really weird... without spoiling too much, there is a postmodern story for those who are up for a good rabbit hole.”
- “Outside the main campaign, there's a clear ARG or unfiction story unfolding which is evolving as the game grows closer to 1.0.”
- “There are mini-games and story elements everywhere, and I, despite my position, can honestly say I don't understand it all.”
- “Very challenging, needs more missions, but it is in early access so I imagine more will be added.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of dr4x is characterized by its quirky and offbeat charm, featuring a blend of low-poly art and bold comic-like elements that enhance its unique lore and oddball creatures. Players appreciate the game's focus on creating an immersive experience, likening it to playing within a game, supported by charming graphics and atmospheric audio.
- “It puts a lot of attention into creating an atmosphere that you’re playing a game within a game.”
- “The art style is a mixture of low-poly models and bold comic-like elements, which, while simple, fit the offbeat atmosphere.”
- “Unlike the sprawling empire-building games that dominate the genre, dr4x focuses on faster matches, streamlined systems, and a quirky atmosphere filled with strange lore and oddball creatures.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game excels in replayability, offering a fast-paced experience with diverse factions and procedural generation that encourages multiple playthroughs. While the campaign is brief, the skirmish mode significantly enhances replay value, making it accessible for short sessions and appealing to players seeking variety. However, those expecting the depth of traditional 4x games may find it lacking.
- “It’s easy to pick up for short sessions, highly replayable thanks to its faction variety and procedural generation, and unapologetically weird in a way that sets it apart from its peers.”
- “As short as the campaign may be (at the time of writing, it has 5 stages), the skirmish mode offers incredible replayability.”
- “It’s a game that prioritizes pace and replayability over long-term depth, and players looking for the grand, sprawling complexity of traditional 4X titles may leave wanting more.”
- “Great game, so fun, a friend recommended it saying it's better than the screenshots and it is hugely replayable with so many different settings.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its brilliant composition, effectively enhancing every aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “The soundtrack is brilliantly put together and complements every aspect of the game incredibly.”
- “The music enhances the overall atmosphere, making every moment feel more immersive.”
- “Each track is perfectly timed to the gameplay, elevating the experience to a whole new level.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marred by frequent graphical glitches and unreadable text, creating a disorienting experience for players. While early access titles often encounter such issues, the extent of these problems in this game is notably concerning.
- “There are graphical glitches happening all over the game; words become scrambled and unreadable, and there’s a feeling that someone’s messing with you.”
- “There are normally glitches and performance issues in early access alpha games, but I have not seen them at this point.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally perceived as forced and ineffective, with many users feeling that the writing fails to deliver genuine comedic moments.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates commendable optimization for an early access alpha, with users reporting minimal glitches and performance issues, which is often uncommon for titles in this stage of development.
- “There are normally glitches and performance issues in early access alpha games, but I have not seen them at this point.”