Reach for the Stars: The Conquest of the Galaxy

Reach for the Stars is a 4X strategy game from before the term “4X” even existed. It’s pure, stripped-down galactic conquest: research tech, colonize worlds, and try not to get obliterated by rivals who seem to operate on caffeine and hatred. The visuals are minimal—ASCII would feel luxurious—but what matters is the strategic depth, which is delightfully uncompromising. Every choice matters, and every mistake echoes through the galaxy like an embarrassing voicemail. If you enjoy planning ten turns ahead, this is the kind of game that quietly steals whole weekends while you convince yourself you’re “just checking one more planet.”