Star Traders 4X Empires

About

"Star Traders: 4X Empires" is a turn-based space strategy game where you command a starship, explore galaxies, engage in space warfare, manage resources, negotiate diplomacy, and govern your civilization. Customize your empire, lead your faction, and expand your reach across the galaxy. Experience a rich, story-driven narrative in this vast 4X strategy game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

graphics4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique twist on the 4X genre by allowing players to manage three factions simultaneously, adding depth to the political and strategic gameplay.
The ship customization feature is highly detailed, allowing for a wide variety of ship designs and strategies, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
The developers are actively engaged with the community, providing regular updates and support, which shows their commitment to improving the game.

The user interface is clunky and feels like a port from a mobile game, making it difficult to navigate and understand the mechanics without extensive trial and error.
The tutorial is poorly designed, offering little guidance and often requiring players to restart if they misclick, leading to frustration.
The game suffers from balance issues, particularly with population management and AI behavior, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and challenge.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
12%
The gameplay of this 4x game is characterized by its unique and complex mechanics, offering a mix of enjoyable and challenging elements, though some mechanics are poorly documented. While the game starts slowly and can have unengaging turns, it features balanced and satisfying empire-building gameplay, with interesting ship design and combat mechanics. Overall, it provides a solid experience for fans of the genre, despite some areas needing improvement, such as logistics and documentation of mechanics.
- “It's a seemingly simple yet deceptively complex 4x game that brings some interesting gameplay and unique mechanics.”
- “Gameplay can be slow at times, but it is only because empire building takes time.”
- “If you enjoy 4x games, don't mind a slower pace, but truly want a deeply satisfying gameplay that fully delivers on its promises, look no further than Star Traders: 4x Empires.”
- “Not all of the mechanics are well documented, and you may have to search the dev's forums to find out how some things work.”
- “The 'siege' mechanics are excruciatingly drawn out.”
- “Information on mechanics is hard to find in-game.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and dated, reminiscent of styles from 20 years ago, with some users noting choppy visuals and an unappealing interface. While the artwork has a retro charm and the overall aesthetic is considered acceptable, it lacks the depth and detail found in more modern titles. Despite these shortcomings, many reviewers appreciate the game's depth and gameplay, suggesting that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “It is fairly simple to learn, and the unexpected depth you'll find in what can admittedly come off as graphically unimpressive is astonishing.”
- “Please don't underestimate the graphics as this incredibly deep gem was crafted by a two-man team.”
- “While the graphics are 2D and a bit on the simple side, I can wholeheartedly recommend this game.”
- “Graphic looks like it's from 20 years ago.”
- “This makes the graphics look very choppy on all but the most zoomed-in screens.”
- “Some of the graphics are unappealing, not just low quality (I don't like the ship models).”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with many expressing that while the turn-based system alleviates some pressure, the overall experience quickly becomes monotonous. The limited interaction mechanics contribute to a sense of boredom, detracting from the otherwise interesting blend of gameplay elements.
- “Thankfully it's turn-based, so you don't have to worry about getting slapped while you take time to take your turn, but it goes from fun to tedious real quick.”
- “It's seriously tedious.”
- “The left-click-only mechanic makes everything pretty tedious.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it annoying and repetitive, while others appreciate the ethereal soundtrack, despite a current bug. Additionally, a texture and music mod available in forums offers an alternative that enhances the experience. Overall, the music is considered acceptable but not outstanding.
- “There is a texture and music mod that adds some flavor that can be found in the forums.”
- “The music is so annoying and repetitive.”
- “The graphics and music are not brilliant but just okay.”
- “There is an ethereal soundtrack that currently has a bug but will be fixed soon.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The story features a space-based love narrative where the main character navigates a tumultuous relationship with an advisor while battling alien invaders and managing conflicts among drug-addicted factions and rival guilds. Building on the established lore of the Star Traders universe, "4X Empires" offers players a fresh perspective on its richly developed storyline.
- “Experience a space-based love story featuring you, the main character, and your love interest, the lovely advisor, as you try to fight off unrelenting waves of alien invaders, all while dealing with a drug-addicted populace and the guilds responsible for your budget and equipment, which are constantly trying to annihilate each other.”
- “Following the success of their previous titles, Star Traders and Templar Assault, 4X Empires builds upon the lore of the Star Traders universe by giving the player a completely new perspective on the deeply enriched story previously told.”
- “The story tries to blend a space-based love narrative with action, but it ends up feeling disjointed and confusing.”
- “The plot is cluttered with too many elements, making it hard to follow the main storyline.”
- “Character development is lacking, leaving the love interest feeling one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting its infinite replay value and overall strong value proposition, making it a worthwhile experience to revisit.
- “Infinite replay value.”
- “Really good value and replayability from this alone.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report stability issues, particularly with map glitches that affect camera tracking of ships, requiring players to perform cumbersome workarounds to resolve the problem.
- “There are several map glitches, such as the camera not following ships when they automove or enemy ships, unless you perform an annoying little trick each time.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
- “I encountered numerous stability issues, including lag spikes and frame drops that ruin the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users giving it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for its captivating artwork and immersive environment.
- “The artwork and atmosphere are absolutely stunning, a perfect 5 out of 5!”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout the game.”