X4: Foundations cover art

X4: Foundations

2018EgosoftLinux, PC (Microsoft Windows)

X4: FOUNDATIONS, the long awaited sequel in the successful X series, brings our most sophisticated universe SIMULATION ever. Fly every ship, EXPLORE space or manage an empire; TRADE, FIGHT, BUILD and THINK carefully, while you embark on an epic journey.

What it feels like

The slow-paced, systems-driven gameplay invites strategic reflection and long-term planning.

Contemplative45%

What it's about

A speculative far-future setting with space exploration and advanced technology as foundational. Sweeping interstellar empire building across a detailed simulated universe with competing factions. Work, money, trading, and economic systems drive much of the gameplay loop and progression.

Science Fiction85%
Space Opera70%
Capitalism & Labor65%
Journey & Pilgrimage40%

How it plays

Densely interacting simulated systems—economy, NPCs, factions—produce emergent, unscripted outcomes across a living universe. Commanding economies, fleets, and stations in real time is central to the empire-building gameplay loop. Buying, selling, and market dynamics are core loops within the broader empire-building system.

Deep Simulation80%
Real-Time Strategy80%
Trading & Economy75%
Vehicular Control75%
Base Building70%
Resource Management70%
Emergent Systems65%
Gunplay55%
Immersive Sim50%

How it looks and sounds

Ships are piloted from a first-person cockpit perspective, though the game also allows management views. High-fidelity 3D rendering of ships and space environments aims for realistic visual presentation.

First-Person55%
Photorealistic45%

How it's structured

A large continuous space explorable in non-linear player-chosen order is the foundational structure of X4. Designed as a single-player experience with no multiplayer component. A sprawling game expecting dozens to hundreds of hours to develop a functional empire.

Open World90%
Single-Player90%
Long-Haul Scope85%
Seamless World85%
Sandbox50%
X Rebirth78% match

Shares Open World, Science Fiction, Real-Time Strategy, Trading & Economy.

Both lean into Open World, Single-Player, Science Fiction, Real-Time Strategy.

Open World90%Single-Player90%Science Fiction95%Real-Time Strategy85%

Shares Open World, Space Opera, Vehicular Control, Trading & Economy.

Both lean into Open World, Space Opera, Trading & Economy, Vehicular Control.

Open World80%Space Opera85%Trading & Economy65%Vehicular Control65%
Star Trucker65% match

Shares Vehicular Control, Open World, Long-Haul Scope, Trading & Economy.

Both lean into Single-Player, Vehicular Control, Open World, Long-Haul Scope.

Single-Player90%Vehicular Control95%Open World75%Long-Haul Scope70%

See all games like X4: Foundations

A lesser-known kindred — Resource Management, Long-Haul Scope, Base Building, Deep Simulation. 91% positive across 4,418 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Single-Player, Resource Management, Long-Haul Scope, Base Building.

Single-Player85%Resource Management78%Long-Haul Scope62%Base Building75%

A lesser-known kindred — Real-Time Strategy, Science Fiction, Resource Management, Base Building. 96% positive across 4,811 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Real-Time Strategy, Science Fiction, Resource Management, Single-Player.

Real-Time Strategy90%Science Fiction70%Resource Management75%Single-Player40%

A lesser-known kindred — Science Fiction, First-Person, Space Opera, Gunplay. 91% positive across 4,914 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Single-Player, Science Fiction, First-Person, Space Opera.

Single-Player80%Science Fiction75%First-Person95%Space Opera80%
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