Summary
- 4X strategy games focus on exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination through diplomacy or warfare.
- 4X strategy games face challenges on the Switch due to hardware limitations and complex controls.
- Some of the best 4X strategy games on the Nintendo Switch include Civilization 6 and 7, Northgard, and the Thea games.
Taking its name from the four main gameplay elements of the genre, 4X strategy games focus on exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination. Moving around a map, often shrouded in the fog of war, discovering other players who are either AI or human-controlled, and then engaging in diplomacy or warfare over land and resources are the main aspects that make up any great 4X game.
10 Best 4X Strategy Games Ever, Ranked
Throughout the years, many 4X strategy games have been released, but the following have earned their spot in the genre's hall of fame.
Given the hardware limitations of Nintendo’s hybrid console, it’s challenging for developers to port expansive and strategic games without simplifying their features, as mapping complex controls to a gamepad presents issues in itself. Despite this, the Nintendo Switch offers many great 4X strategy games, and here are some of the best, ranked based on a combination of their overall quality and popularity.
7 Worlds Of Magic: Planar Conquest
Dominate A Fantasy World Across Multiple Planes Of Existence
- Platforms: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Released: 2015, 2020-01-24 (Nintendo Switch)
- Developer: Wastelands Interactive
- Genre: Turn-based strategy
Taking inspiration from the 1990s strategy game Master of Magic, Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest is a fantasy-themed 4X game with turn-based combat. As the name suggests, players can hop between seven different planes of existence, making campaigns feel more expansive.
There are eight different races to choose from, and characters can be fully customized or chosen from preset options. Tactics and diplomacy play a major role in success, as does amassing a strong army with plenty of powerful spells to assist in combat, and recruitable Titans certainly give an advantage to those hoping to destroy their enemies. Many reviewers felt that the Switch port was not optimized for the hardware and found it particularly difficult to play in handheld mode.
6 Thea 2: The Shattering
Rule The World As A Slavic Deity In This Genre Hybrid
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Released: 2019-05-13, 2021-08-19 (Nintendo Switch)
- Developer: MuHa Games
- Genre: Strategy
Heavily inspired by Slavic mythology, players take control of a deity from Slavic folklore in Thea 2: The Shattering. Blending 4X strategy with turn-based combat, a collectible card game, and some role-playing, it’s a complex mixture of genres.
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Games that incorporate Slavic mythology are often few and far between. However, these games pull it off well.
As is usually the case in 4X games, players can accomplish their goals through diplomacy or warfare, but there is a race for resources either way, so that each deity may help their believers expand their sphere of influence. There are plenty of crafting and town-building options to keep each playthrough fresh, which is enhanced by each game world being procedurally generated. Card-based combat is not for everybody, but it includes more options than in the first Thea game.
5 Thea: The Awakening
Turn-Based Strategy And Survival
Thea: The Awakening
- Released
- November 20, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy, Indie Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Taking inspiration from both The Witcher and Warhammer 40K, Thea: The Awakening puts players in the role of a Slavic God, much like its aforementioned sequel. The world is recovering from a magical apocalypse known as “The Darkness,” and it’s up to the Gods to keep the remaining survivors alive as they rebuild society, while banishing beasts.
Characters are sent out into the world to scavenge resources that will assist with rebuilding the colony, but will often be forced to engage in a card-based battle minigame, especially when encountering monsters like strigas. Victory in combat earns experience points and loot, but too many injuries can result in death, meaning caution is advised if players want to keep these precious commodities alive.
4 The Battle Of Polytopia
Simple And Speedy 4X Gameplay
- Platforms: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Released: 2016-02, 2022-10-13 (Nintendo Switch)
- Developer: Midjiwan AB
- Genre: 4X turn-based strategy
Starting life as a mobile game and receiving its Switch port a few years later, The Battle of Polytopia is a very fast-paced 4X game with low-poly graphics and simple mechanics. Choosing from one of twelve unique tribes, players may then configure the map type, enemy tribes, and select one of three game modes.
Either playing to a 30-turn limit or continuing until all rivals are defeated, the game features simplified, but surprisingly deep, 4X mechanics, including a technology tree and army-building for warfare. For those who find the 4X genre overwhelming, Polytopia is a perfect way to ease into it, getting a small taste without overly complicated mechanics or a heavy time investment.
3 Northgard
Discover A New Land And Help The Northmen Prosper
Northgard
- Released
- March 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Based on Viking culture and Norse mythology, Northgard tasks players with settling their clan and helping them survive on a newly discovered continent. The new land in question is the eponymous Northgard, a mysterious land filled with riches for those bold explorers who are willing to brave the dangers in the unknown land and fight rival clans they encounter along the way.
8 Best City-Builder Games With Combat, Ranked
Players will have to think strategically in these city-builders that not only unleash creativity but also present challenges through combat gameplay.
Not only is the land finite, but the seasons dynamically change, giving boosts to certain constructions at times, but also sometimes causing detrimental effects. There is a story mode, though some reviewers found it lackluster, so it’s probably best to just freely play either offline or online and aim for one of the many victory conditions, like fame, fortune, conquest, or devotion to the Gods.
2 Civilization 7
Revamped Leader And Age System Breathes New Life Into The Series
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
- Released
- February 11, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- February 11, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Since its launch, Civilization 7 has been somewhat polarizing, with some players and critics alike not enjoying the various gameplay changes, whereas others find it better than its predecessor. Either way, it’s different and provides a fresh take on the gameplay of the Civ series, from a more streamlined and simplified Age system to changeable civilizations in each era.
An interesting addition is the more expanded leader selection, now allowing for notable figures from history, including philosophers and scientists, rather than just politicians and monarchs, as seen in prior entries. Given time and possible expansions, Civ 7 could very well become one of the better entries in the series, possibly even surpassing Civ 6 as the best 4X game on Switch.
1 Civilization 6
A Miracle Port On The Plucky Hybrid Hardware
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
- Released
- October 21, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Despite its hardware limitations, the Nintendo Switch is home to some miracle ports, and Civilization 6 is one of them. The kind of game where every decision matters, players have a large pool of leaders to choose from, each with their unique units, tile improvements, and strengths toward certain victory conditions.
Various expansions have massively increased the number of leaders, plus added optional gameplay elements like natural disasters, zombie outbreaks, and the Diplomatic Victory condition, among countless other improvements to the overall package. The Switch port initially suffered with some teething issues, but various patches have made it a stable and enjoyable experience that players can take on the go.
Honorable Mention: Terraformers
Terraformers
- Released
- April 21, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Asteroid Lab
- Genre(s)
- Management
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Terraformers is worth noting, even though it is technically a 3X game. Indicated by the name of the game, the goal is to terraform Mars and establish thriving colonies, while competing against rivals. As a peaceful game, the lack of combat means that the crucial extermination aspect is missing, which would make this a full 4X game.
Each world is procedurally generated, making each playthrough unique, but players always aim to convert the Red Planet into an inhabitable globe, and there are many ways to achieve this objective. It can be overwhelming and a challenge for many in the beginning, but those who persevere will find real depth in terms of options and an experience that is both enjoyable and highly replayable.
Best 4X Strategy Games Playable On PS5, Ranked
For fans of 4X strategy games, here are some of the best titles to check out on the PlayStation 5.