Rank 01Why this
Also 4X and Grand Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
- $29.99 (Price checked Nov 3)
- Deck Playable
- 2015
Games like Galactic Civilizations IV
- 28 games
- Updated Nov 3, 2026
Players who liked Galactic Civilizations IV also play
The closest matches to Galactic Civilizations IV: Galactic Civilizations III, Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition, Old World, Stellaris, and Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
- Rank 01
Rank 02Why this
Shares ship designer with Galactic Civilizations IV.
- $4.99 (Price checked Oct 31)
- 2011
Rank 03
Rank 04 
Stellaris
Why this: Also Diplomacy and 4X, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Rank 05 
Rank 06 
Rank 07 
Rank 08 
127 new reviews this week- Trending
The full ranked list: top 24 games like Galactic Civilizations IV
Best match first, as plain text. The same list for AI assistants:
- 1Galactic Civilizations III
Also 4X and Grand Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
- 78% of 6,580 reviews
- 2Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition
Shares ship designer with Galactic Civilizations IV.
- 80% of 797 reviews
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- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
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- 12
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- 15Space Empires IV Deluxe
Also 4X and Turn-Based Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
- 88% of 214 reviews
- 16
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- 24
- Released: 2023
- Developer: Stardock Entertainment
- Price: $39.99checked Nov 3
- 74% of 1,581 reviews
- Genres: Strategy, Simulation
- Platforms: Windows
Players highlight
- Custom civilizations and galaxy creation
- Immediate results for actions feel rewarding
- Rich lore and varied races
- Challenging
- Contemplative
- Epic
More games like Galactic Civilizations IV, sliced differently
Reviewers mention these as similar to Galactic Civilizations IV
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Master of Orion
Why this: Also 4X and Grand Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Idle Civilization
Why this: Same contemplative mood as Galactic Civilizations IV.
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
Why this: Also Diplomacy and 4X, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Why this: Also 4X and Space, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Galactic Civilizations IV at current Steam store prices.
ENDLESS™ Space - Definitive Edition
Why this: Also Diplomacy and 4X, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
AI War 2
Why this: Also 4X and Grand Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Space Empires IV Deluxe
Why this: Also 4X and Turn-Based Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Lord of Rigel
Why this: Shares custom race creation with Galactic Civilizations IV.
Free alternatives
Free games the recommender matches to Galactic Civilizations IV, limited to titles with at least 500 Steam reviews and 80% positive.
Crusader Kings II
Why this: Also Diplomacy and Grand Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Age of Conquest IV
Why this: Also Grand Strategy and Turn-Based Strategy, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
Star Realms
Why this: Also Turn-Based Strategy and Space, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
More from Stardock Entertainment
Other recommendable Steam games by Stardock Entertainment, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation
Why this: Same epic mood as Galactic Civilizations IV.
Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
Why this: Also Diplomacy and 4X, like Galactic Civilizations IV.
The Political Machine 2020
Why this: Same contemplative mood as Galactic Civilizations IV.
About Galactic Civilizations IV
The closest matches to Galactic Civilizations IV: Galactic Civilizations III, Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition, Old World, Stellaris, and Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
If Galactic Civilizations IV is your kind of game, the closest matches are Galactic Civilizations III, Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition and Old World — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers describe it as challenging, contemplative and epic, and single out its custom race creation and forced peace mechanics. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Galactic Civilizations IV is a turn-based 4X space strategy game released in 2023 by Stardock Entertainment, priced at $39.99 USD and unavailable on Steam Deck. Players create custom civilizations and design their own ships while navigating a sector-based galaxy that lets them develop personal narratives, and the forced-peace mechanics prevent perpetual warfare. Reviewers highlight the immediate reward from player actions and the rich variety of races and lore. Players describe it as both contemplative and epic, with the streamlined late-game turn flow keeping massive campaigns engaging. The game supports online cooperative multiplayer and extensive modding. It holds a 74% positive rating from over 1,500 Steam reviews.
About Galactic Civilizations IV: Take command of a civilization that has just achieved faster-than-light travel in Galactic Civilizations IV, the newest entry in the award-winning space 4X strategy game series. Explore the galaxy, colonize worlds, shape cultures, make alliances, fight wars and pioneer new technologies.
Is Galactic Civilizations IV worth buying?
Mostly recommended
A summary of what players say, not a promise you'll like it. Every signal is listed below.
- 74% of 1,581 Steam reviews are positive.
- We don't track this game's daily reviews yet, so this is the all-time picture.
- Price: $39.99 (checked Nov 8).
- People who recommend it had played a median of 53 h when they wrote their review.
- Critics had played a median of 33 h before turning negative, so complaints are about the long run, not the first hours.
- Not supported on Steam Deck.
What fans praise · Themes mined from positive reviews
- Custom civilizations and galaxy creation
- Immediate results for actions feel rewarding
- Rich lore and varied races
- Sector system lets you develop your own narrative space
Top critical reviews
The most up-voted negative English reviews in our sample, quoted as written.
“Games in near unplayable on a large map. Why? There is no way to find the currently selected ship. 1 minute of each turn is just trying to find the current ship on the map. All they needed was a red flashing circle, or clicking on the ship…”
“They still advertise that they support multiplayer. They still don't. Checked in after a year, started a multiplayer session, desynced turn 1. First negative review I’ve bothered to write on Steam -- would have never bought it if I knew…”
People who play it also play: Galactic Civilizations III, Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition, Old World
Frequently asked about Galactic Civilizations IV
Can I run it?
Does Galactic Civilizations IV work on Steam Deck?
Galactic Civilizations IV is currently rated Unsupported on Steam Deck. It may not launch or may have significant issues that block normal play.
How much does Galactic Civilizations IV cost?
Galactic Civilizations IV is listed on Steam at 39.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
Does Galactic Civilizations IV have multiplayer or co-op?
Yes — Galactic Civilizations IV supports multi-player play according to its Steam store listing (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online PvP).
What games are most similar to Galactic Civilizations IV?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Galactic Civilizations IV are Galactic Civilizations III, Galactic Civilizations® II: Ultimate Edition, Old World.
Who developed Galactic Civilizations IV?
Galactic Civilizations IV was developed by Stardock Entertainment.