Space Empires IV
Turn-based 4X galactic conquest with deep tech and diplomacy.
Space Empires IV is a turn-based 4X strategy computer game developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First as part of the Space Empires series. Players control an alien race in an attempt at galactic conquest, managing empires on a scale far above individual persons, with combat not necessitated by the game itself and political negotiations available.
- Developer
- Malfador Machinations
- Publisher
- Strategy First
- Series
- Space Empires
- Genre
- turn-based 4X strategy
- Notable races
- ['Terrans', 'Praetorian empire', 'Eee consortium', 'Xi-Chung hive']
- Racial techs
- ['Organic', 'Crystalline', 'Psychic', 'Temporal', 'Deeply Religious']
Lore & Background
Space Empires IV was developed by Malfador Machinations and published by Strategy First as part of the Space Empires series. The game allows players to select from a variety of alien races, including the Terrans, the expansionist and peaceful Praetorian empire, the highly intelligent Eee consortium, and the aggressive Xi-Chung hive. The galaxy is represented by discrete star systems connected by warp points, each containing stars, planets, asteroids, storms, and warp points. Planets vary by type (ice, rock, gas), atmosphere, size, conditions affecting reproduction and happiness, and resource values for minerals, organics, and radioactives.
Reader's Guide
Space Empires IV is notable for its large technology tree system, which allows for high technological variation between empires through turn-by-turn research point production. Players can improve planets via facilities or build ships for defense. Victory can be achieved by destroying colonies and home worlds with increasingly devastating weapons, including planet-destroying and star-manipulating technologies, or by diplomatic alliance with all races. The game received recognition from Computer Gaming World as a nominee for best strategy game of 2000, described as 'very old-school' with an 'almost obsessive level of micromanagement.' Writer Mark H. Walker noted in 2003 that Shrapnel Games had 'made serious money' with Space Empires IV, citing it as a success story for Internet-based game distribution alongside Battlefront.com.
Did You Know?
- The game features racial tech lines including Organic, Crystalline, Psychic, Temporal, and Deeply Religious.
- Computer Gaming World nominated Space Empires IV as the best strategy game of 2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed and published Space Empires IV?
Malfador Machinations built the game, and Strategy First handled its release as the fourth entry in the Space Empires franchise.
Which playable factions appear in Space Empires IV?
The roster includes the Terrans, the Praetorian empire, the Eee consortium, and the Xi-Chung hive, each representing a distinct alien civilization vying for galactic dominance.
Is combat mandatory in Space Empires IV?
No—the game does not force you into battle. You can pursue a purely diplomatic or economic path, using political negotiations to expand your influence without ever firing a weapon.
What technology branches can a race pursue in Space Empires IV?
Each civilization can specialize along one of five racial tech tracks: Organic, Crystalline, Psychic, Temporal, or Deeply Religious, shaping the unique capabilities your empire develops over the campaign.
Is Space Empires IV a real-time or turn-based game?
It is a turn-based 4X strategy title, meaning you plan colony management, research, and diplomacy in discrete rounds rather than reacting to a continuously ticking clock.
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