Battle of Polytopia shows 4X games don't need to be big, and it's free right now

When I think of the leading 4X games, names such as Stellaris and Civilization 7, scale is one of the first aspects that comes to mind. If you're going to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate, you want an extensive space to do it in, right? The Battle of Polytopia proves conclusively that this way of thinking isn't always the answer. On the flat, simple landmass of the Square, this small-scale strategy squeezes packs surprising depth into a tight package, and you can grab it for nothing as one of two Epic Games Store free games this week.

The Battle of Polytopia has everything you expect from the best 4X games - scouting the map, settling cities, growing crops, choosing research projects, training troops, and tussling with rival factions either through diplomacy or on the battlefield. But this indie game from developer Midjiwan proves that bigger isn't always better. It might reduce the size, but it trades that for pristine balance and more complexity than you might expect. It's easy to pick up and play, even as a strategy newbie, but you'll spend plenty of time becoming a master.

There's plenty of variety on offer, with 16 tribes each bringing their own culture and attributes to the table. You can set up games on five different styles of map, with five sizes available to determine how fast you want things to progress. In single-player you can opt for 'perfection' (highest score in 30 turns), 'domination' (eliminate all opponents to win), or choose 'creative' to play however you like.

There's also online matchmaking, and here the smaller format of Polytopia really shines. In 'glory' mode it's a race to reach 10,000 points before everyone else. In 'might' mode your job is to capture the capital city of every tribe on the map. Additionally, weekly challenges let you test your skills in a shorter, 20-turn version of perfection mode on an identical seed that's shared by all players, letting you prove yourself as the best strategist around.

Now, if you're fast, you can snag The Battle of Polytopia as one of the Epic free games for this week. There's more, however; Monument Valley, a short puzzle game that earned itself a deserved reputation for its beautiful visual design, is also on the docket. It's worth grabbing while you're there, so don't miss out.

The Battle of Polytopia and Monument Valley are free on the Epic Games Store from Thursday September 4 until Thursday September 11. They're yours to keep once claimed. Head here to get them while you can.

We've rounded up the best strategy games in 2025 for even more to scratch your tactical itch. If you're looking to take things on the go, we've got an updated guide to the best gaming handheld to suit your needs.

Join the PCGamesN community Discord server to chat about the latest and greatest in PC gaming, and let us know what's caught your attention of late.