Many Sci-Fi 4X games have a great backstory, or a subtle variations to the standard 4X gameplay which makes them classics. Stand up MoO and GalCiv. SE4 gives you everything you want in a 4X, with many levels of complexity and deep and relevant research trees. Races are incredibly diverse and of course design-able. Which directly influences your strategy. Everything can be set up by the player. In fact designing, races, or the galaxy, or units and planetary defenses is all part of the fun and can consume many hours on their own. Plus there are hundreds of mods, so if you want Star Trek, Star Wars or Babylon 5 it exits in SE4. Check all the amazing Mod sites. In effect it is a giant Sci-Fi 4X kit and whilst it lacks the character or graphics of other more well known 4x games it will deliver everything you think a Sci-Fi 4x should deliver. I have played it and earlier versions for what seems all my gaming life and I keep returning to SE4 (not SE5 which is prettier, but inferior due to subtle changes to the mechanics). Treat yourself, you will not regret it.
