What are 4X strategy games?
The term is a loose acronym of explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate, coined in 1993 to describe the gameplay of Master of Orion. X games usually feature complex simulations of scientific research, economics, diplomacy, and social dynamics. In a preview of Master of Orion, Emrich coined the term XXXX to describe the emerging genre. Eventually, the 4X label was adopted by the game industry, and is now applied to several earlier game releases.