How Civilization Games Became a Vibe @Shelfside

Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

We delve into the 4X genre, that mostly encompasses civilization and space games! It is technically considered a mechanic on boardgamegeek, where players will expand all the way to exterminate their enemies in a high-conflict, high diplomacy long gameplay. But are there issues with bringing a traditionally complicated video game genre to board gaming, as seen with games like Sid Meier's Civilization? Are there just too many chits and cards to manage with the steep learning curve for game night? Or are there many fake 4X's like Scythe, or games that try to streamline 4x to water down too many mechanics?

Games mentioned:
Eclipse: Second Dawn, Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition, Twilight Imperium Prophecy of Kings, Tiny Epic Kingdoms, Galactic Era, Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition, Scythe, Last Light, Rome Total War, Europa Universalis 7, Civilization Revolution, Civilization 6, Endless Space 2, SId Meier's Civilization: The Board Game (2010), Civilization: A New Dawn (with Terra Incognita Expansion)

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Definition- (1:01)
The 4X Appeal - (2:01)
The 5 Barriers - (3:45)
The not so 4X - (6:48)
Final Thoughts - (9:32)

Support us:
patreon.com/shelfside
ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
shelfside.co

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
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discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings - Track 8
youtube.com/watch?v=PkOC5BnnXwU

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Track 1
youtube.com/watch?v=Rxbcp2AK-2Y

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Track 5
youtube.com/watch?v=09hkbF0AFwk

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Track 6
youtube.com/watch?v=KtrvTntcBUE

Broke for Free - Something Elated
youtube.com/watch?v=kxh4S2A8Q4U

♪ Biscuit (Prod. by Lukrembo)
youtube.com/watch?v=EtZ2m2Zm3vY

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames

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$Project: Elite is ANXIETY board gaming (and why it works) Real time dice rolling makes for a super frantic cooperative game! Project ELITE (by CMON) has players taking on the role of sci-fi shooters to eliminate the aliens and complete an objective. Weve only tried the first mission so this is not a review, rather just a depiction of how crazy this asymmetric miniature filled game is! No kidding, you roll for everything, like movement and firing weapons (that need to be loaded). The bad red die roll moves the aliens during the two minuted allotted time! Luckily these tactical rules are quite simple, like determining line of sight or just how to roll the dice for combat. But how frantic is this kickstarter game really, and is it worth the anxiety? Follow Rolyn Dice on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rolyndiceltd/rolyn-dice-tubes Roll Rolyn Dice (launching August 21st): https://rolyndiceltd.com/ Table of Contents: Intro - (0:00) Rolyn Dice - (1:04) Project ELITE - (1:40) Further Thoughts and Ashton’s Score- (6:25) Ashton’s Solo Gameplay Snippet - (9:09) Support us: https://www.patreon.com/shelfside https://ko-fi.com/shelfside Our Website! https://www.shelfside.co/ Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link) https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside Shelfside Social Media: https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/ https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/ https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62 Links to our other stuff: Ashtons Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu Daniels Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2 Stuff Used: Game Cinematic Cyberpunk by Infraction [Cyberpunk No Copyright Music] / Into The Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pSxklVALb8 Project: Elite - Phase 01-06 - Audio Countdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHMScFA_J9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uu83IgYZxE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEuRlLvTRUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxYSUoLK0bo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smES9eUx0tg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfZkm1ENccM #boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames$ $Reviewing EVERY Monopoly Expansion We review the latest Monopoly launch of 3 expansions, which all insist on making the game faster! These are all $10, and can play on house rules like free parking or even make spaces like Just Visiting purchase-able! In fact, in one of the expansions, you can even buy the bank! In Buy Everything, you can even have variable player powers with new win conditions. Or just go to SuperJail in Go To Jail for maximum corruption cards! Do these expansions change the Monopoly core of roll and move and trading enough to make it a recommendation today in the era of Euros and BGG ratings? How do these games handle randomness for adults and kids? Or is making the runtime so fast even a good idea, or does hasbro just care about making them finish quickly? PLAY Song for War: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/invictarexgames/song-for-war-mediterranean-theater-0 Table of Contents: Overview - (0:00) Good/Bad each Expansion Shares - (1:05) Free Parking Jackpot Expansion - (3:11) Buy Everything Expansion - (8:18) Go To Jail Expansion - (13:01) Song for War - (16:06) Recommender Score - (16:43) Ashton’s Personal Score - (25:10) Support us: https://www.patreon.com/shelfside https://ko-fi.com/shelfside Our Website! https://www.shelfside.co/ Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link) https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside Shelfside Social Media: https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/ https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/ https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62 Links to our other stuff: Ashtons Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu Daniels Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2 Stuff Used: Sport Trap MMA Boxing by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Uppercut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn6gO5vbr10 Upbeat Rock Energetic by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Ready To Go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHzBDM2p8j0 Jazz Jamboree On The Ivories by Sascha Ende https://filmmusic.io/en/song/11997-jazz-jamboree-on-the-ivories Silent Movie 44 by Sascha Ende https://filmmusic.io/en/song/12462-silent-movie-44 Silent Movie 45 by Sascha Ende https://filmmusic.io/en/song/12462-silent-movie-45 #boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames$

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