DR4X

DR4X, developed and published by Untrustedlife, is an unusual take on the 4X and turn-based strategy formula that manages to feel both compact and eccentric. Unlike the sprawling empire-building games that dominate the genre, DR4X focuses on faster matches, streamlined systems, and a quirky atmosphere filled with strange lore and oddball creatures. It’s a game that wears its indie roots proudly, offering players something different from the expected, whether in terms of pacing, design, or tone. The core structure revolves around asymmetric factions, each of which feels distinct not only in aesthetics but in how they operate mechanically. Choosing a faction is more than a cosmetic preference—it defines your playstyle and shapes the way you interact with the map, enemies, and victory conditions. Some lean heavily into direct combat, while others introduce more unconventional strategies like rituals, resource manipulation, or subtle expansion mechanics. The random generation of maps and the ability to tweak game settings further expand this variety, meaning no two sessions feel exactly the same. Skirmishes are deliberately short, often finished in under an hour, which encourages experimentation and makes it easy to try different factions or settings without committing to a marathon playthrough. DR4X thrives on unpredictability and emergent play. The world can generate a host of strange events and bizarre threats, from skeleton armies and zombies to stranger creatures like eldritch horrors and the infamous Hell Bears. This unpredictability adds tension and charm, as a match can quickly shift from controlled expansion to desperate survival against unexpected invaders. The combination of procedural generation and modular customization keeps players on their toes and creates an experience that feels playful, if at times chaotic. While the systems are lighter than those of full-scale 4X titles, the constant pressure to adapt ensures that decisions remain meaningful. Visually and tonally, the game embraces its weirdness. The art style is a mixture of low-poly models and bold comic-like elements, which, while simple, fit the offbeat atmosphere. The campaign mode leans into theatrics with exaggerated voiceovers and strange lore, creating a haunted, tongue-in-cheek backdrop to the strategy gameplay. It’s not trying to compete with the grand narratives or realistic aesthetics of big-budget games; instead, it carves its own niche by being strange, campy, and memorable. This stylistic choice won’t appeal to everyone, but it gives DR4X an identity that is unmistakably its own. Of course, its indie scale also means that some areas feel rough around the edges. The user interface, while functional, can be clunky, and new players may struggle with a learning curve that isn’t always well explained. The randomness that makes matches exciting can also make them frustrating, as unlucky rolls early on can snowball into unavoidable defeats. Because the systems are intentionally pared back, veterans of the genre might find the mechanics shallow once they’ve mastered the available factions and strategies. It’s a game that prioritizes pace and replayability over long-term depth, and players looking for the grand, sprawling complexity of traditional 4X titles may leave wanting more. Despite these shortcomings, DR4X succeeds in its ambition to deliver a fast, fun, and eccentric twist on the strategy genre. It’s easy to pick up for short sessions, highly replayable thanks to its faction variety and procedural generation, and unapologetically weird in a way that sets it apart from its peers. For fans of strategy games who don’t mind a little chaos and quirkiness in place of polish and scale, it’s a refreshing alternative. DR4X isn’t about building a massive empire over dozens of hours—it’s about jumping into a strange world, experimenting with new tactics, and embracing the unpredictability of whatever the game decides to throw at you. Rating: 6/10

As a disclaimer, I have been online friends with the developer since childhood. That being said, I still bought this game with my own money at full price, and believe I am judging the experience through an unbiased lens. In it's simplest terms, I would describe core game play elements to be reminiscent of the combat from the Civilization series. Turn based, certain units do more or less damage to others depending on unit and terrain fought in - not particularly complex as far as strategy games go, but still enjoyable. The campaign features challenging levels which are fun to play through and explore, and satisfying to complete. The soundtrack is also brilliantly put together and compliments every aspect of the game incredibly. Though the campaign may be on the shorter side (for the time being), the game also features a skirmish mode with maps that are randomly generated. The skirmish mode offers a lot of customization on the user's own part, to the point I believe this may go against the game. The HUD and menus need improvement, and the options when making custom game modes are sometimes a bit vague, which makes it a bit overwhelming to view as a new player. The individual races (to the game's credit, there is a warning many aren't fully fleshed out) are also a bit immense, with not much in the way to separate each race from one another, nor to determine what immediately makes a race unique. While many of the units do feature unique and memorable unit portraits, the 3D model representations lack enough detail and do not differ greatly enough to really cause their silhouettes to be easily distinguishable at a glance. If you've played and enjoyed other turn based strategy games (Civ V, XCOM), I'd say this game's a steal at full price even if you only come for the campaign. If this is your first entrance to any strategy game, I would suggest starting with something more critically acclaimed, and coming back during a sale or after the game's completion.

You can raze mines as bandits, or play a kingdom trying to expand your mining operations and fight off bandits. What I like about this game is the various sides from which it can be played. You can be Ratmen, Bandits, Cultists, Kingdoms, Goblins, Bears, etc.

Great game, so fun, a friend recommended it saying its better than the screenshots and it hugely re-playable with so many different settings. Glade I got it and can see many, many hours of play ahead. Plus the Dev is constantly updating the game and this is clearly a labour of love

One of the most customisable strategy games I've ever played. Want to play as some goblins trying to kill Gods? Go for it. Want to be arsonists that overthrow cults? Go for it! Want to be... bears? And goats? And use them to tear down monarchies? Go for it. Also even though it's early access the developer is putting out new updates all the time and has been since even before the game arrived on Steam. I've also heard that there's some hidden stuff in the game. I wouldn't know anything about that though. Winks aggressively.

I've played a little now in both the campaign and scenario mode now. I am really enjoying the game. The turn-based combat is great. I like that I can play slow, and analyse the tactical layers. On the other hand, I have watched a Youtube video of dev playing at near lightspeed. The game seems to work either way. There is so much to discover and experience. There are normally glitches and performance issues in early access alpha games, but I have not seen them at this point. I am going to keep digging into this gem, but based on first impressions, this a winner! P.S. The ability to play with so many variables in setting up a custom scenario is great!

Fun and challenging. The "skirmishes" are filled with variety and take a great deal of strategic thinking.

I'm a big fan of asymmetry. I like varied factions, I like learning how each of them works. DR4X goes hard on asymmetry. And I mean HARD. Do you want to play as ratmen making little tunnels everywhere? Maybe you want to be a hive entity very similar to ants, moving around the map breeding new troops. Or maybe you want to play as the wildlife itself! It's crazy asymmetric, and I love it.

Great gam

Creative and interesting game made by a great developer. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something a little bit different from the traditional gaming experience.