I had mixed feelings on the release state of Age of Wonders 4. Some things felt like a downgrade from Planetfall - I missed Dwellings, all the events, the quirky character. There's been a spate of DLC for the game since, and this might be the strongest. The free patch also helps a lot. The new Landmarks really help the map feel more alive and less ... static and boring, as it was at release. The new ruler type is actually pretty fun. They jazzed up the Underground so it's more worthwhile to explore and use. The loot is feeling more impactful and interesting. The update to the Feudal culture (I believe part of the free update) was sorely needed. This feels more like the Triumph games I loved before. The pacing is way better than some other 4X games, and it now feels like there's just a *lot* to see and do. Absolutely worth it if you are interested in fantasy 4X, especially combat heavy / tactical.
If you've played some of their previous games (Shadow Tactics, Desperadoes 3) then you'll know what to expect. If not, definitely look into them, they're great! It's a stealth tactics game where the missions can feel like puzzles to solve. The major difference between this and the previous games (other than setting) is that you can choose who to bring with you on the mission, and some maps are re-used. That's not as bad as it sounds, because you don't have to clear the map to succeed at your objective, and you may end up exploring entirely different areas or routes on different missions. Not to mention, it's a big playground with the different characters and their abilities. You're free to think of creative combos - have Gaelle load Quentin into her cannon, shoot him into a high spot, then he can use his fishing pole to pull her up with him. There's way more like that, and the characters have a lot of personality to match the outlandish setting. Some players may not like the activities on the ship between missions, but they're pretty optional. I thought they were fine for what they were. No one else is really making games like this, and they're worth experiencing if you enjoy stealth, tactics, and really thinking your way out of tricky situations.
I've been a fan of the series since the first one came out, but this feels like a capstone (especially once they've finished the DLC, if AOW 3 is to be any guide). If you're unfamiliar with the series, this is a very combat-centric strategy game. This particular entry has more meat to the "world map" layer than the previous versions, but it still all comes down to the tactical combat (or, failing that, the unit design). The factions are varied and interesting, with not a few sci-fi tropes thrown in for fun (and Russian space dwarves, because why not). Your units can be further customized with mods, which can add a lot of depth to the game and gives low-tier units a viable place in your army for the duration of the game. Melee units getting chewed up before hitting the front lines? Give them a jetpack! Engineer needs something to do after installing a turret? Give him a missile launcher. In addition to your faction, you choose a "secret technology" to adopt. This is basically your superweapon (you can even build doomsday devices) and adds a lot of flavor to your army. You can mix and match factions and secret techs to have 36 different empires (42 if you have the first DLC). The system is rife with interesting combos to find and exploit, and the world is colorful and fun to explore, in a sort of sci-fi-cartoony way. There are even minor factions to contend with - ally with them, and get their unique units and mods (like Mad Max-style Spacers with crashing cars, sentient plants with giant worker bees, etc) ... or go to war with them, and get great loot to equip your heroes with! Campaigns are ... fine. Just finished the main one, and you do get choices that set up the final mission. Scenario mode is where the meat is. Music is great, perfectly fitting for the genre and setting, and exciting without being annoying. I bounced off of Civ 5 and 6, even Endless Legend, but I keep coming back to this.
