Suggestions for a GOOD space strategy game?

[vmxa1]

Yes it looks good, with Shadows. It is too much money as you really need all the expansions. They had a sale of 80 for all, but I just am not sure I would play rts. They said they plan on a rolled up package at a good price down the road. I will wait to see.

[Spaced Cowboy]

Currently playing stardrive, got it for $10 in a sale a while back. Taking a bit to get used to with the auto functions. Have not finished any games yet so jury still out.

[Patroklos]

Ha I came here looking for info on Distant Worlds and wouldn't you know.

I picked up the base game and first expansion off 30 bucks. It looks good and has an interesting game play style but there is a mismatch between the spreadsheet in space style depth and the point and click boom RTS Skype of the actual gameplay. The RTS style makes you want to play quickly rather than spend an hour designing a ship and once you build there ships its more like spamming Starcraft marines than building valuable ships worth naming to managing in anything but the most macro way. Combined with the fact that you can automate everything effectively I find myself just observing a full automated universe rather than playing in it.

I recommend Aurora, but I hope you have an imagination

[mahks]

What do you mean by strategy?

I define strategy as the following :

Planning : This is a time element thing. Games usually permit a player to react fairly quickly to an unexpected situation. Fast reaction time eliminates the need for planning.

Logistics : Dealing with the logistics must not be onerous, but its effect has to be there so it affects decisions. This aspect can present many strategic opportunities, like cutting lines of supply, interdicting re-enforcements and the need for intelligence regarding it.

Intelligence : Lack of information can really add a lot of intrigue to a game. For this, fog of war is a must and it has to be persistent (what I mean is, if you have no assets at a location, you have little, none or old info about it).

Manoeuvre : Major & minor battles, feints, diversions, supply & trade disruption, siege, retreat, looting and scouting all add to strategic scope. Many games seem to devolve into placing the majority of assets in one big fleet and going on a rampage. Basically a FPS and about as far from the type of strategy I am talking about as you can get.

All these aspects of strategy are available in other genres, but rarely in a space game.

[kaamil20]

Try cube field .Its a sick game .Its like trying to get through meteores.

[Hikapo]

Faster Than Light(FTL)

Its pretty fun.

[Ellestar]

Faster Than Light(FTL)
Its pretty fun.

Yeah, not a 4X but a very good strategy game with a roguelike elements.

The Last Federation is a very unique space strategy game, not just another generic 4X.

Endless Space is a very high quality 4X if you're not into tactical space battles (they're effectively omitted from the game). Everything else is really good.

Distant Worlds is a good real-time 4X.

Other than that, Horizon is bad. I heard good things about StarDrive, but didn't play it yet (already brought it, so i'll try it soon).