5 Best 4X Games on Android & iOS (2023)

Explore. Expand. Exploit. Exterminate. These are the four junctures 4X games make a stopover at in their full playthroughs. They may sway from that exact order. However, all four typically spring up at some point. 

4X games have been making waves since the 1990s. Most 4X games make it to PCs, even now when current-gen consoles are all the rage. Still, a few slip through the cracks and appear on other platforms, including Android and iOS releases.

While it may take scouring the earth to find the best 4X games on Android and iOS, here, it only takes a few minutes of reading through our best 4X games on Android and iOS to find the one.

5. Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville

A sea of zombies has been unleashed on the world, turning every living thing in its path into the undead. The remaining survivors go into hiding for years. When the world falls, and cities are left in ruin, players are tasked with reemerging the survivors from hiding and rebuilding human civilization from a bunch of scraps. 

Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville is a post-apocalyptic mix of strategy and planning. It doesn’t go easy on you, forcing you to scavenge for food and supplies. Meanwhile, rival gangs seek to destroy you illnesses break out like flies, your people grow impatient with their livelihoods, and all the while, zombie attacks continue to haunt the streets.

Thanks to a compelling textual narrative and dark humor, spending time among the survivors is never a pain. In fact, it motivates you to keep at it, putting up a building at a time and making tough decisions for the greater good. For what feels like a million things to do, is there anything more one can ask for?

4. Civilization Revolution 2

Civilization Revolution was great. However, Civilization Revolution 2 is much better. It’s the first to launch on mobile devices and features updated 3D visuals and more tactical depth to boost. The goal remains the same: to build the most powerful empire that rules the world. Set soon after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the start of the Revolutionary War, players must protect the American people and liberate them from the British Empire. 

Civilization has been a famous name in the 4X gaming world. Now that the game has arrived on Android, more players will no doubt want to experience the same mechanics on the go. Just keep in mind that although it employs all the fun the franchise is known for, it may feel more simplified on the less powerful mobile hardware.

3. EMPIRE: Deck Building Strategy

A barbarian captivity wants to find a new civilization, and they rely on you to help lead them to victory. EMPIRE: Deck Building Strategy employs the same ideas as Star Traders 4X Empires Elite. However, players must use cards to employ tactical moves that develop and expand their empire. 

As players explore a dying land, they will run into enemy territories. Make sure to attack them first, as the monsters regularly outnumber you as soon as they get the chance. Although EMPIRE: Deck Building Strategy is easy to learn, it can get tricky pretty fast. Winning the game is pretty hard, though not impossible.

Players must position their forces in areas where they have an advantage. Then, strive to protect your tribe from harm by gathering resources and outsmarting opponents. Each battle you win adds to your empire’s growth. And with time, you’ll have gotten closer and closer to acquiring enough territories to fully revive the country.

2. Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy

Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy is a deeply challenging 4X game that tasks players with controlling a massive interstellar civilization. If you’re a fan of space-themed games, you’ll enjoy traveling among the stars, researching new technologies, and building the most powerful spaceships to wage war against rival planets. 

Perhaps you’ve heard of a similar premise in some other 4X game. Well, Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy stands out from the rest by offering more accessibility. It’s much more stunning with fluid, fast-paced controls you won’t have to fight with. The gameplay is simple. Eclipse other factions and lead your people to greatness.

1. Star Traders 4X Empires Elite

There are so many wild stories about how things might go down if Earth is destroyed and only an elite few survivors make it to Mars. In Star Traders 4X Empires Elite, you have the opportunity to put your theory to the test. Players take control of a group of survivors who’ve just landed on a hostile planet. They must use their wits and turn-based strategy to build a new civilization spanning the entire galaxy.

It won’t be all rosy, as several entities won’t take kindly to your unwelcome visit. There are moments when you’ll have to fight hostile aliens to protect your people. Other times, rival factions will spin up that you must find a way to control. Otherwise, they may take over rulership and lead your people in the wrong direction. 

It’s not all bad, though. Through exploration, you’ll find lost technology you can use to your advantage. However, that too will challenge you, pushing your boundaries to see how far you can go. Just like any other civilization, growing one will take know-how of how to manage resources and maneuver the political landscape delicately. Some situations will warrant building treaties to combine your strengths and install harmony. Others will give you no other choice but to wage war. 

So, can you build your economy to levels at which your people can sustain themselves during the war? Can you use strategy to manage spies, politics, technology, and war weapons? Will you not only survive a hostile planet but thrive to become the galaxy’s ultimate leader?

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our best 4X games on Android and iOS (2023)? Are there more 4X games on Android and iOS we should know about? Let us know down in the comments or over on our socials here.