Thousand Parsec is not only a game by itself, it is also a free and open source framework for creating a similar group of turn-based space empire building games, which are often called 4X games, from the main phases found in them: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate. Some examples of games which Thousand Parsec draws ideas from are Reach for the Stars, Stars!, VGA Planets, Master of Orion and Galactic Civilizations.