Recs.
Updated
Starbase Orion is a very popular 4X game and is heavily based on Master of Orion, a popular pc-game released in 1993. The game also works surprisingly well on smaller devices and has a postitive fantasy-like vibe while maintaining the sci-fi genre.
Specs
Pros
Pro Deep strategy
This is a fantastic game. If you enjoyed Master of Orion, you will love this. Single player mode is fun, but the real fun comes when you pit yourself against other players. Lots of ways to win. You can be a race of superintelligent aliens, a dark spy race, a race of hardened warriors, a race of traders. Lots of flexibility in the design of your race, wonderful tech system where each new tech really changes the play of the game. Can't be recommended highly enough for those with the patience to give a deep strategy game its due.
Pro Builds on the foundation of Master of Orion with great gameplay
Master of Orion was a wildly popular pc-game with a lot of interesting and unique gameplay elements, but hasn't aged very well. Thankfully, Starbase Orion can be seen as a spiritual successor and is based on the same elements that made Master of Orion great.