I'm currently playing Galactic Civilization 2 and I think it's great! I have however noticed Space Empires V as well, but according to Gamespot it's not nearly as good as Space Empires IV. Has anyone tried them both, if so which one is you favorite? I've played and liked Master of Orion 2, Space Empires IV and Galactic Civilization 2. The only other I've tried is Master of Orion 3, but I didn't like it. I know there are abandoware 4X:es out there, but I'm looking for more "up to date" games.

I have to say space empires IV. Yup

Galactic Civilization is definitly one of the worse 4X I've played so far... But you just can't beat Master of Orion 3. That game is not even a game, it's a mediocracy at it's best. As for Space Empires, I don't even know the game so it's quite hard to comment on it...

About all the good 4X are not listed in the poll, I would expect "Other" to be filled quite fast... But if you want to play the best of them all, you should definitly get Master of Orion 2. And play without the Antaran attacks...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eagle of Fire @ Dec 5 2006, 04:34 AM) [snapback]270308[/snapback]</div>I've played MOO2 a lot in the past and I've found GC2 to be just as good if not better than it. With the coming expansion I'm expecting GC2 to kick *money maker*. The first GC wasn't that good though.

Sword of the Stars is awesome! :D

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bernie @ Dec 5 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]270412[/snapback]</div>I've seen some screenies from it and it certainly looks good, but how does it compare to other 4X:es in terms of depth, variety, AI etc.?

According to IGN it's a little too combat inviting...

SotS is a hate it or love it game.
For many it's too simplistic and abstract. Compared to the detail level of combat the detail level of empire management is very, very low.

However that shouldn't fool you. The strategic part (Empire) of the game, without all those details, is actually deeper in SotS then in any other 4X I've played.
The tactical part (combat) is also great, but sometimes frustrating.

You should make another division in 4X's. The traditional Strategic vs. Tactical doesn't cut it. The strategic part should be subdivided into management and actual strategy. SotS has little of the first and lots of the second. You're and admiral, not a president or engineer.

AI can be considered a hit and miss. Sometimes it's awesome and baffling (and very hard) and sometimes it makes you go 'wha?'
To be honest, it's more often the latter, but I have that with many games :P

Star Wars Rebellion is a great strategy game. And I like Myth too.

Moo2 is the best 4x game ever developed... It has a balance between micro and macromanagement, unlike SEV. SEV is too micro focused. You have to attach each crew quarter to your ships, its ridiculous, the next thing will be that you have to have to design the head :D. Another big problem of SEV is the dumbness of the AI.

GC2 is damn close to be a spiritual successor of MOO2, if the expansion Dark Avatar delivers what Stardock advertises, it will be the new king of genre. The game has the same balance like MOO2 and AI is phenomenal, at times you will think its a human player, and it does not cheat!. The only problem with it is that it adapts to slowly to your weapons. Maybe DA will solve this.

Nothing can beat the original:
Master of Orion