With over 100 hours played thus far, I still feel like I have only scratched the surface of what X4 has to offer. If you can imagine a game that combined Eve, Elite Dangerous, City Skylines, and Factorio, then you have an idea what X4 is. It's one of the most complex games I have ever played. In the simplest of descriptions you are building an empire through network relations, market dominance and sheer military might. You are assisted by your AI fleet of traders, miners and military personnel/ships as you travel with your own ship to shake hands with the neighbors, complete missions and explore. I spend most of my time on the map barking orders to units and optimizing the supply chain. Taking the wheel of my ship when it's time to fight. I find myself getting overwhelmed sometimes by the never ending "to do" list.

It's a single person game (which I prefer) so you can pause and save before trying anything risky just in case. X4 has done a fantastic job at making the galaxy feel alive. There is so much going on; from other factions conducting mundane trade shipments to faction wars happening in other sectors. Even a few hostile factions that just don't like you for no reason other than existing. Your ships have crews and these crews all gain experience and grow more useful as the game goes on. You might even remember some of the captain's names that have been with you the longest. Or you might want to promote that service crew guy/gal to captain of their own ship. The captain of my ship is being groomed to command my capital ship when I can afford one. Anyway, you will be the most insignificant thing on the map when you start.

Everything affects the economy. That faction that lost that war is going to rebuild their fleet, sounds like a good time to trade ship parts. If you flood the market with something, you can bet the price will fall. You can find shortages of items and pivot your production to fill those shortages or have your trade ships start buying and selling to them. Or, you can do the bare minimum of the economy game and just fly around and do missions or cause trouble as a pirate or gun for hire. How you play it is up to you.

What X4 does not do well is hold your hand and tell you what to do next. I have spent dozens of hours watching YouTube "how to's" and reading forums.