X: Tension

I last played the X series back in 2010, and that was already an old game but a classic for me. I own the box version with hardcopy manual, but bought them on steam again just to ensure I would not loose this gem. The X-Beyond the Frontier is a bit too rough for me to play through the whole story again. I believe there are some YouTube video of the whole storyline as a quick playthrough if you want to see it again. The X-Tension on Steam, thanks to the latest updates from egosoft, has an easier user interface and is more of an open world introducing you to the "X" universe that we then play with X2, X3, X4 .. but at least in X-Tension you can get in your ship's pilot seat. You can access special options with "Shift O"; use that to disable the missions until you are ready for it, and also incease the SETA speed multiplier. If you have a slow start grinding to get a better ship, I don't know if the old bug of ejecting in front of the shipyard and trying ti select a mammoth as your ship still works ; I did two different save files, send them to ChatGPT 3o and told him how many credits I had in each file, to help isolate where the value is stored, and asked to change my credits to 1…

Recommended for fans of the X-Universe or anyone who enjoys open ended trading and empire building. X-Tension takes the foundation of X: Beyond the Frontier and expands it into a true sandbox. There’s essentially no story here, only random generated missions for trading/combat, and just one actual Story mission that only triggers once you hit a few late game requirements. This entry feels much closer to a modern X-Universe game. You get a proper galaxy map, a property menu, the ability to own multiple ships, and almost double the number of sectors compared to X:BTF. It’s a big jump in usability and scale, and I was genuinely impressed by how much they added considering it released only about a year after the first game. The graphics are still old, but noticeably improved. Everything is more expensive in X-Tension, and factories take longer to become profitable compared to X:BTF. The slower economic ramp actually fits the sandbox, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re coming straight from the first game expecting quick returns. But with SETA time acceleration, I sometimes left the game running while making dinner or running errands and came back a few million credits riche…

I like the fact you can pilot new ships and it's expanded in other ways, but unfortunately the crazy price increase compared to Beyond The Frontier, makes this game an impossible grind. Personally I'd skip this one and go straight to X-2 after completing Beyond The Frontier.

i dont know how to play butt its a good game!

Это хорошая игра, но у неё очень большие проблемы с актуальностью. Эта часть позиционируется чисто как песочница. Тут нет сюжетки. Если вы хотите проходить сюжет игр по порядку, то пройдите сначала в X:BTF, а потом X2. Если же хочется поиграть в песочницу, то лучше сразу X2 или более поздние части. QoL в X2 на намного выше X: Tension. Плохую оценку игре ставить рука не поднимается, но сейчас я посоветую её пропустить в пользу более поздних частей.

X: Tension, developed and published by Egosoft, is a space simulation sandbox that significantly expands upon the framework established in its predecessor, X: Beyond the Frontier. Rather than functioning as a traditional sequel with a tightly scripted campaign, it acts as a large-scale evolution of the original concept, broadening the universe, increasing player freedom, and deepening economic and fleet management systems. The result is a title that prioritizes autonomy and systemic complexity over narrative guidance. At its core, X: Tension places players in a vast interconnected galaxy composed of dozens of sectors, each governed by dynamic economic rules and populated by diverse factions. Unlike story-driven space games that funnel players toward fixed objectives, this title encourages self-directed progression. You are free to pursue commerce, piracy, bounty hunting, or large-scale economic expansion. The galaxy operates in real time, with goods being produced, transported, and consumed regardless of player involvement. This creates an ecosystem where supply and demand fluctuate organically, rewarding attentive traders who study market trends and identify profitable routes. O…