Upcoming space 4X game Hyper Empire is like Stellaris squashed into 40 minutes

4X games like Stellaris and Sins of a Solar Empire have long transfixed me. Their massive scale is not only a battleground, but a storytelling canvas. The only problem is that they take forever. If you are an adult with an actual life, how can you find dozens of hours to give to building a space superpower? Luckily, Hyper Empire is here to fill in the gap, promising all the tactical decision-making and strategic mind games of a classic 4X in 40 minutes or less. The full release will come later this year, but you can pick up the demo as part of Steam Next Fest right now.