The Story Timeline Order of X Games
The X franchise of video games consists of space simulator (space sim) games that feature a vast universe to be explored, space stations to be built, enemies to be fought, locations to be discovered and missions to be completed. X games not only give the player freedom to build, trade, explore and fight as they see fit, but also create a sense of immersion in players with all the gameplay systems that function independently in a persistent, dynamic game universe.
The X games are known for their economic and management aspects. In X, players can trade goods and products until they have enough resources, and then build space stations that produce these products. Also, players can hire alien ships to transport or protect these factories and space stations. The games also feature ship upgrades, and often, multiple ships that can be used by the player in their adventure in space. For this reason, X games can also be considered economic and management games, besides their characteristical simulation and space sim aspects.
The X series not only simulates a persistent universe with different factions, but also a whole economy system. There are price fluctuations, supply and demand relationships, and some of the games even feature stock exchanges. The X video games offer an in-depth economy system, as well as multiple missions to be completed, stories to be a part of and a universe to be discovered. While X games are technically space sim games, they are more than that, including simulation, economy, trading and strategy elements as well. For this reason, in my opinion, while the X games can be considered to belong to the space sim genre, it makes more sense to consider them to belong to the immersive sandbox simulation genre.
Is There an Order in Which to Play the X Games?
X games are typically self-contained. In other words, it is not necessary to have played previous X games in order to understand the story of the next game. However, playing the X games in chronological story order is important to understand the story progression of the X univese, as well as of its factions and important characters. Quite often, the events of one game can be related to story developments of previous games, and other backstory that the player could know better if they had played previous X games. For these reasons, while it is not necessary to play the X games in order to enjoy the gameplay of the series, it is suggested to play them in story order for a better understanding of the universe of the games and of the backstory.
The Chronological Story Order of X Games
This is the chronological story order of the X video games. In other words, this is the order in which the story develops in the X universe across multiple games. This is the suggested order in which to play these games in other to better understand the story and immerse in the games universe. It is important to note that this order is not identical to the release order of the X games, considering, for example, that Farnham's Legacy was released after X Rebirth, but the story events of Farnham's Legacy happen before the story events of X Rebirth.
X: Beyond the Frontier
X-Tension
X2: The Threat
X3: Reunion
X3: Terran Conflict
X3: Albion Prelude
X3: Farnham's Legacy
X Rebirth
X4: Foundations
The Story Timeline Order of X Games
These are the years in which each X video game takes place. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the exact years for all games. The games for which I've found the exact year have their year displayed next to the game name. For the games that I wasn't able to find the exact year, I've written as much information as we have available on the time period of that video game. I've also provided rough estimates for the years of some games, which can be found after this list. The estimates I've made based on the known information about the story of the games. The estimates should not be taken as carved in stone, but rather as something to provide a notion of time. For example, when I say that my rough estimation is the year 2917, I'm not saying the game necessarily happen exactly in 2917, I'm saying that it likely happened around that time (for example, it could have happened in 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 2919, which are all years close to 2917, and so on).
2912 X: Beyond the Frontier
29?? X-Tension
29?? X2: The Threat
2935 X3: Reunion
2938 X3: Terran Conflict
???? X3: Albion Prelude
???? X3: Farnham's Legacy
???? X Rebirth
???? X4: Foundations
X-Tension takes place at a very approximate time after the X: Beyond the Frontier. For this reason, it is reasonable to say that X-Tension takes place in the same century as X: Beyond the Frontier, even though the exact decade and year are unknown. However, it is reasonable to say that X-Tension is set, at maximum, a few years after X: Beyond the Frontier. For example, a resonable roughly estimated year date for X-Tension could be 2917.
X2: The Threat happens some years after X: Beyond the Frontier and X-Tension, and it happens before X3: Reunion. For this reason, the minimum year for X2: The Threat necessarily is 2913, and the maximum date necessarily is 1935. However, because of some story events, it is reasonable to assume roughly 20 years between X: Tension and X2: The Threat. For example, a reasonable roughly estimated year date for X2: The Threat could be 2930.
X3: Albion Prelude is set to bridge the time periods between the previous X games and the future of the X universe (X Rebirth onwards). I haven't found the exact year of X3: Albion Prelude, but it is quite reasonable to say that X3: Albion Prelude is set after X3: Terran Conflict and before X Rebirth.
X3: Farnham's Legacy is set after X3: Albion Prelude. Since X Rebirth marks a new beginning, or a new phase, in the X universe, it is reasonable to assume X3: Farnham's Legacy to happen before X Rebirth. However, I wasn't able to find the exact year in which X3: Farnham's Legacy takes place.
X Rebirth is set in an unspecified, distant future in the X universe. Considering that I wasn't able to find the exact year or century of this game, I haven't included the year or century in the X universe timeline. X4: Foundations is set 10 years after X Rebirth.
Sources of Research: