Crime in Galactic Civilizations IV is an unavoidable factor that every civilization must manage, whether they embrace it or attempt to eradicate it. While some civilizations, like the Zaloxi, are inherently crime-driven and can benefit from a high crime rate, most factions suffer negative consequences if crime is left unchecked. This guide will break down how crime affects your economy, strategies for managing or exploiting it, and the role of crime in intergalactic diplomacy and warfare.

Understanding Crime in Galactic Civilizations IV

Crime is measured per planet and is visually represented by a small icon of a person kicking a soccer ball. The game caps crime at 100%, and when it reaches this limit, vigilantes automatically intervene to bring it back down slightly. This self-regulating mechanic prevents crime from escalating indefinitely, but it still has significant implications for both your economy and your citizens’ approval ratings.

Crime’s Impact on the Economy

The most immediate and noticeable effect of crime is its influence on your planetary economy. Crime imposes a negative modifier on economic output, scaling with the crime percentage. A planet generating 24 credits per turn with 100% crime will see this number reduced by exactly 100%, bringing its total economic contribution to zero.

However, there are two structures that crime enables, which can offset some of the losses:

• Black Market: Increases wealth, approval, and influence, each by +2.
• Smuggler’s Port: Provides additional economic benefits and trade-related bonuses.

While crime initially stifles planetary income, it does offer pathways to alternative economic growth, especially for crime-centric civilizations like the Zaloxi.

Crime and Approval Ratings

Citizens on high-crime planets experience a decline in approval. For instance, at 100% crime, approval drops by -12%. At 75% crime, it’s -9%, and so on. A low approval rating further impacts economic production and stability.

If left unchecked, rampant crime will lead to significant morale issues and potentially impact other gameplay aspects such as diplomacy and governance.

Methods for Controlling Crime

For civilizations that do not wish to embrace a criminal economy, managing crime is essential. The primary way to lower crime is through the “Fight Crime” button, which costs 50 control points per use. However, the effectiveness of this action varies, reducing crime by a random percentage between 3% and 15%.

Another effective method is appointing a Minister of Justice, a leader that passively reduces crime empire-wide based on their Diligence stat. This approach provides a more sustainable crime reduction without consuming control points.

Crime as a Spreading Phenomenon

Crime does not exist in isolation. A heavily criminalized world can spread crime to neighboring planets, further destabilizing your empire. Conversely, if your crime levels remain low across most of your worlds, you will have an easier time maintaining stability and productivity.

Crime as a Weapon: The Zaloxi Playstyle

The Zaloxi civilization thrives on crime, wielding it as a weapon rather than a hindrance. Unique to the Zaloxi, crime spreads naturally through:

• Trade routes: Zaloxi trade routes spread crime to connected civilizations.
• Fleet proximity: Zaloxi commanders passively generate 10% crime on neutral or enemy worlds just by being nearby.
• Empire-wide diffusion: Crime naturally seeps into connected planets, accelerating expansion of black markets and smuggler operations.

While crime does create instability, Zaloxi players can deliberately allow crime to flourish, building black markets and smuggler’s ports on every planet to generate significant income. However, this approach invites constant war as other civilizations recognize the crime wave and retaliate.

The Downsides of High Crime

If you are not playing as Zaloxi, allowing crime to get out of control can have severe drawbacks:

1. Frequent Moral Dilemmas – High crime triggers regular events where you must decide how to handle criminal activity. These dilemmas often present three choices:
   • Invest in police gear (costly, but reduces crime and prevents further unrest).
   • Ignore the crime (+5% crime increase).
   • Militarily crack down on crime (requires intimidation points).
2. Syndicate Formations – The game frequently prompts you with the option to allow a crime syndicate to form, granting a 10% crime increase. Denying this requires sacrificing approval or investing military power.
3. Diplomatic Fallout – Other civilizations actively despise high-crime empires. Even without hostile actions, crime-ridden factions tend to face wars initiated by more law-abiding civilizations. If playing Zaloxi, expect perpetual war.

Crime Management vs. Crime Exploitation

There are two distinct playstyles when dealing with crime:

1. Managing Crime (Low-Crime Empire Approach):
   • Invest in control points to periodically “fight crime.”
   • Assign a Minister of Justice to lower crime empire-wide.
   • Construct wealth districts and approval-boosting buildings instead of black markets.
   • Use intimidation-based decisions to stomp out syndicates before they form.
2. Embracing Crime (Zaloxi or High-Crime Empire Approach):
   • Let crime naturally spread to every colony.
   • Build black markets and smuggler’s ports on every planet to create a powerful underground economy.
   • Use crime-spreading trade routes to destabilize enemy factions.
   • Accept diplomatic hostility and prepare for war as other civilizations grow hostile.

Final Thoughts: Crime as a Double-Edged Sword

Crime in Galactic Civilizations IV is an intricate mechanic with both risks and rewards. Traditional civilizations must keep crime in check to avoid economic collapse, while crime-focused civilizations like the Zaloxi can embrace it for an alternative path to power.

If you are new to the game, the safer approach is to minimize crime while growing your empire. However, if you are looking for a unique challenge, playing as a high-crime civilization presents opportunities for economic manipulation and aggressive expansion at the cost of perpetual conflict.

Regardless of the path you choose, understanding crime mechanics will help you optimize your empire and strategically navigate the intricate political and economic landscape of the galaxy. Whether you’re enforcing law and order or building a crime syndicate in space, mastering crime mechanics is essential to your success in Galactic Civilizations IV.