DarkUnderlord you should try x4
November 30 is when X4 releases and it will be basically only good space game for who knows how many years
Looks more like a walking & office simulator to me. Is there going to be anything new except teleporters? Note that everything on your list was already in X3 except conquer galaxy.
There is plenty of changes from X3.
- new graphic engine duh. looks much better and every ship will have cockpits.
- No loadings. There are still jumpgates but moving from one part of galaxy to another is instant.
- Galaxy is divided into : Clusters you travel via jumpgates (no loadings), sectors (highways, no loadings) and zones.
- They removed completely jumpengines. Unlike previous X games now you can't just jump whole armada where you want in split second. This also means that you need to move fleets strategically and sectors themselves will play a role in defense.
- unlike X3 you will manage your kingdom from map screen like in RTS game.
- economy unlike X3 is no longer proped up by fake stuff. Every ship, station etc is build by someone and every kingdom/faction/nation has its own balance that can run dry.
- unlike X3 this is now complete sandbox, no two games will look the same, factions could wipe each other and as you said you can conquer sectors clusters etc.
- sub systems. Big ships now need some fighter defense systems or escorts because those fighters can target subsystems. You can attack jump drives, shield system, engines, each weapon and turret etc.
- stations are completely different from X3. They are massive now and they are much more logical, there will be housing, administration, storage areas, trading points etc. you can fully customize station as much as you want.
- NPC system. Unlike X3 each ship, station etc. is managed by NPCs you hire. Those NPC have skills and how they perform is tied to those skills. Stations for example may want some metallurgist that could improve production of silicon wafers. Station creating weapon may want weapon specialist etc.
X-Rebirth was dud but X4 seems like it is on good track to properly replace X3 and 1up most of space sim games.