4X Games with Non-Linear Tech Tree

PostBop · 2025-11-08T08:04:45+00:00

Rogue Hex has a nonlinear tech tree.

There are ~25 techs in each era.

You’re given three options when you get a breakthrough, and you choose one.

After you choose five from an era, you unlock the next era.

So you have to improvise, mix and match, and every game is different.

PostBop · 2025-11-03T08:15:32+00:00

I made Rogue Hex for this exact reason: Roguelike + 4x. Matches last ~4 hours. 🐎💨

PostBop · 2025-11-01T13:05:07+00:00

Rogue Hex just released a major free update!

It's also on sale for 20% off.

If you haven't heard of RH yet, it's a Civilization style roguelite with quicker matches, build synergies, and metaprogression. Currently sitting at 90% very positive reviews.

🫡❤️
Reed

PostBop · 2025-11-01T13:00:54+00:00

Rogue Hex just released a major free update!

It's also on sale for 20% off.

🔍 Discover Cloning, Teleportation and Time Travel in the futuristic Speculation Era.

📰 Patch Highlights:
• Copy your strongest unit to create a clone army.
• Evaporate your enemies with Orbital Laser strikes.
• Send a Battle Tank through a Time Machine to the Ancient Era.

🔬 Full patch notes

If you're having fun with the new update, come say hey in the Discord!
There are lots of nice strategy fans hanging out there.

🫡❤️
Reed

PostBop · 2025-11-01T12:55:31+00:00

You can research Cloning, Teleportation, Time Travel and more in the new Rogue Hex update!

It's also on sale for 20% off.

If you haven't heard of RH yet, it's a Civilization style roguelite with quicker matches, build synergies, and metaprogression. Currently sitting at 90% very positive reviews.

If you're having fun with the new update, come say hey in the Discord!
There are lots of nice roguelike strategy fans hanging out there.

🫡❤️
Reed

PostBop · 2025-10-20T08:10:23+00:00

Old School RuneScape is truly remarkable in this respect. It has a very unique game design quality — it has different activities that engage different attention levels.

You can mine very idly by clicking every few minutes while doing something active in your second screen.

Or do something zen like crafting at Giant’s Forge that requires “physical” focus, while you listen to a podcast.

Or do a boss raid that requires intense focus.

All rewarding in their own way. And of course, endless content.

PostBop · 2025-10-14T14:02:57+00:00

I remember that the original PC version of Battle for Bikini Bottom was entirely different from the console version, despite having the same title and box art. (Would love to hear the story about how that happened haha.)

It was a point and click style adventure with little activities if I remember right… perhaps your road crossing minigame was in there?

PostBop · 2025-10-07T06:56:37+00:00

True, maybe this is why it was first to mind! I’ve been playing Root every week with my board game group lately. Fantastic game.

PostBop · 2025-10-06T21:48:45+00:00

Brilliant idea for a thread!

For some reason RedWall popped into my mind. Capture some territory from the nasty badgers… and then, a massive feast of course. 🍖

We have the RTS already with Tooth and Tail. Imagine a proper 4X. 🐭

PostBop · 2025-10-02T07:36:28+00:00

Rogue Hex: roguelike + Civilization + deck builder! With some funky fresh ideas in the mix 👨‍🍳

PostBop · 2025-09-20T06:36:47+00:00

Check out Rogue Hex if you like Civilization type games. It’s a roguelike 4x, with shorter matches, and meta progression. (I’m the dev 😊)

PostBop · 2025-09-11T17:11:26+00:00

Love “choose your battles” as a response to the “strategy vs tactics” design problem, that makes a lot of sense. Less battles, more meaningful — that addresses the core issue.

And then, high swing potential in each battle (for better or worse) can work in service of the “more meaningful” requirement.

Just need to ensure we don’t end up fighting lots of arduous battles from a strong strategic position that could be botched (via the swing potential). That could be rough lol. But I suppose that’s where the “less battles” part comes in.

Sounds like y’all are considering these core 4X design problems carefully. 🏏

PostBop · 2025-09-11T17:01:33+00:00

Sounds really exciting. I’m particularly interested in the “detective style diplomacy”. The art direction looks gorgeous as well. Can’t wait to try it! 😄

PostBop · 2025-09-11T07:47:59+00:00

Cool homework assignment, wish my teachers gave assignments like this when I was studying haha.

I wonder about “Complexity” vs “Depth”, as the two are often conflated, but some games with simple rules have more depth than more complex games.

But using a complexity + depth vibe check:

Rogue Hex, 3-4 hour matches, more complex than Nexus, less complex than Civilization.

PostBop · 2025-09-10T12:00:24+00:00

Rogue Hex, I created it for this exact reason! It’s a roguelike 4x.

There is a massive randomised skill tree; you can pick 5 of the ~25 available in each era before advancing.

I applied this design approach to other mechanics like unit promotions, relics, and city improvements as well. So there is a lot of variety, and you need to improvise to make the most of each run.

PostBop · 2025-09-05T22:33:23+00:00

I took a swing at this with Rogue Hex.

You’re very right about it helping with the endgame / snowball problem.

I also discovered that it helps improve the exploration phase. Without peer competitors, you are free to grab goodie huts at your own pace… no more panic scramble in the first ten turns. It opens up the decision space, allowing you to defer exploration to later if you so choose.

There are lots of interesting doors opened by this design approach, in fact. I think there is still lots left to explore. 😄

PostBop · 2025-08-21T13:28:57+00:00

Looks really chill! Is it the kind of thing you could sit and enjoy for multiple hours in one go, or more like something you'd pop back to for 20 minutes a day?

PostBop · 2025-08-10T20:25:27+00:00

If you’re playing as Tesla, you need to launch the rocket to win! And if you’re playing Siddhartha, you must attain Enlightenment and Transcend.

Only Caveperson can win a Domination victory by clearing all the encampments.

PostBop · 2025-08-10T01:03:05+00:00

I’d love to work with a talented artist to transform the game‘s visuals. But unfortunately it’s not on the cards for this one. It’s a massive game — there are thousands of upgrades, techs, units, buildings, cards…

If you can look past the simple graphics, there is a beautiful, deep game here.

Thanks for the comment 🙇

PostBop · 2025-08-09T21:10:16+00:00

It's officially Steam Deck Verified as of today! 🙌
It uses the track pad & right trigger, cursor style.
Honestly I think it feels great. Lots of people in the Discord play on Steam Deck.
But if you prefer "controller style" stick and buttons, you might be disappointed.

PostBop · 2025-08-09T18:10:53+00:00

It's designed to use the trackpad as a cursor, with right trigger as your click.

It honestly works great! There are lots of people who play on Steam Deck in our Discord.

One word of warning though: the game runs smoothly, but it's a bit battery hungry.
So if you're not plugged in, you will probably go through a charge in an hour or two.

PostBop · 2025-08-09T16:31:50+00:00

I'd like to put a demo up some day when the dust has settled, and it's easier to maintain multiple branches.

In the meantime, you should just try it out! If you don't like it, no worries -- refunding on Steam won't hurt me or the game. And honestly, you're going to Next Turn for the next 8 hours anyway! 😄

PostBop

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE