I am aware that GSGs such as Victoria and 4X games such as Civ are different genres (Age of Empires is an RTS game, btw).

I was just meaning to say that GSGs such as Victoria would work just fine as a simulation of socialist systems.

On the space 4X front, couldn't you just limit expansion to uninhabited worlds? Would that still be colonialism if there are no natives? And if you focus on peaceful, diplomacy-focused trade? Because I can totally imagine such a space game. Even if it would be an unusal game for its gerne. (Some of that is already possible in Stellaris)

Im not trying to gotcha you here I legit dont know if mere space "expansion" counts as colonialism if there are no native species ( I mean most planets arent gonna have intelligent life on them)