What are your favorite 4X games?

As a huge fan of them I'd love to hear some opinions, maybe some of you even missed some.

I'll start you off: Galactic Civilization II and Civilization.

*Mumbles some words of thread necromancy*

I just got back into PC 4X games in a major way. Back in the day I played Star Trek Birth of the Federation until my computer exploded. Recently I've picked up Sword of the Stars. Despite it's somewhat amateur presentation I've been enjoying it. I'm sad that Star Wars Rebellion, Birth of the Federation, Sins of a Solar Empire, and Master of Orion arn't on Steam. If they were I'd be all over that in a heartbeat.

Wow this forum needs more lovin'.

I'm curious about Sword of the Stars II. I rarely get to play many 4X games and this one looks good.

If anyone wants a good 4X MMO, then check out Shores of Hazeron.

Old thread is waaaay old. But my favorite 4X game will always be Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. The theme of that game feels really fascinating, believable and conceptually brilliant. I'm surprised that there hasn't been any 4X title that has reached the same level of brilliance of SMAC. It's not a great looking game but god damn it all that matters is that I can build cities on water. Hardly a word of a sequel from EA who hold the licence though I heard recently that they might they something with it. Probably another FPS set in Alpha Centauri...

Also, fuck you Miriam Godwinson. SCIENCE!

Unfortunately from all reports Sword of the Stars II has launched as a broken, buggy mess. They are actively fixing but it's in no state to be played at the moment. That's fine because the first game is so incredibly complicated it'll take me till it gets fixed to get the hang of things. I'd have it no other way.

As for Alpha Centauri I used to find that game almost overwhelming. Being left to build my own units it almost overwhelming. Civilization has managd to keep up with the times extremely so I would gladly welcome a new Alpha Centauri. I's also like a new 4X X-Com but that seems unlikely.