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4X is a genre of strategy-based games in which players control an empire and "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate". Emphasis is placed upon economic and technological development, as well as a range of non-military routes to supremacy. Games can take a long time to complete since the amount of micromanagement needed to sustain an empire increases as the empire grows.

Featuring gameplay centered around the strategic use of cards, these games often involve building decks, managing resources, and executing tactical decisions. Players might encounter various mechanics such as turn-based combat, deckbuilding, and card collection.