Space Empires V

One of my ol time favs in the 4x space genre, played III and IV a ton back in the day. Still unique for the level and ease of modding and there is a long list of great ones. Notably Captain Kwok's Balance Mod (still being updated, with the last release in June of this year!), Crimson Mod, Un-Named Ai mod, and Nova Mod. I've mostly played Kwok's BM and it's the best place to start (don't waste your time with vanilla game), this guy is a legend of his craft having played these games for 25 years and knows how to put together a comprehensive, balanced (wink) and enjoyable mod experience. It's a shame we may never see a SEVI given the rights were sold off many moons ago. Shout out to Aaron and Kwok for the many hours of blood, sweat and entertainment they've given the fans.

A lot of fun if you like 4X and are interested in a deep tech tree and ship design (ship, station, fighter, platform, satellite, troop, drone, mine design...). The latest Balance Mod (from Captain Kwok) is a must, and follow the Captain's game setup recommendations, and you will not be disappointed. Logistics is king, as it should be. This is not Stellaris - this is just a cluster of stars not a galaxy, but it will challenge you to play smartly.