Alan Emrich, the Pioneer Behind “4X” Strategy Games, Passes Away

Alan Emrich, the trailblazing game designer and writer credited with coining the term “4X,” has passed away in 2025. His death was announced by friends on the ConsimWorld forum, a hub for the wargaming community.

 

Emrich’s impact on both board and video gaming was profound. He introduced “4X” to describe sprawling strategy games focused on exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination, first using the term in his 1993 review of Master of Orion. He also founded Victory Point Games, a tabletop publishing company, and contributed to several iconic video games, including Castles 2: Siege and Conquest, Warlords 2, and Master of Orion 3.

 

A Legacy in Game Design and Writing

 

Beyond designing games, Emrich wrote extensively about them. As an editor for Computer Gaming World, he helped shape the vocabulary of strategy gaming in the ’80s and ’90s. His description of Master of Orion as a “quadruple-X” game laid the foundation for the term “4X,” which has become a staple in gaming culture.

“I give MOO a XXXX rating because it features the essential four Xs of any good strategic conquest game: EXplore, EXpand, EXploit, and EXterminate,” Emrich wrote in his review. “Players rise from humble beginnings, building the largest, most efficient empire possible while fending off rivals attempting to do the same.”

 

Honoring His Contributions

 

Emrich’s influence will endure for years to come. From his work on games to pioneering print-on-demand publishing for wargames, his contributions left a lasting mark on the gaming world. “Alan’s legacy is one of innovation and passion for gaming. He leaves behind an indelible imprint on both digital and tabletop communities,” wrote the Armchair Dragoons.

Source: PC Gamer

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