Firaxis Games is always looking for the best way to build an empire, and they have been doing it for decades. Their most recent attempt brings more character than in the past. There are big mechanical changes in Civilization 6 that might grab the attention of fans who lost interest in the series and dropped out around the Civilization 3 or 4 era. Read on for our Civilization 6 review and see how its empire management stacks up against its strategy game competitors.
What Is Civilization 6?
Civilization 6 is a turn-based strategy game created in the 4X-style (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate). Like the name of the game indicates, it all has to do with building a civilization on a large scale. It is without a doubt the most known in its category, with its first version released over 25 years ago and still capturing its devoted fan base.
Players start with a small civilization and use city improvements, terrain, and units to spread it into the dominant empire. It starts from prehistory up to the near future as each player upgrades their civilization.
Changes in Civilization 6
Many Civilization 6 reviews have said this version of the game is one of the best to date. The massive changes made between Civilization 5 and 6 are distinct, with the biggest one being the “unstacking” of cities. They now build districts that give unique bonuses according to how they are next to each other. They also change the way Wonders work—for example, The Pyramids of Giza Wonder can now only be built on a desert tile, so placing a city is more important than ever.
Roads are no longer as much as a nuisance thanks to Trader units taking over the duties. They create roads as they make their way to other cities, virtually automating the process. Builders also have limited building choices, making them more strategic than in the past. They are no longer the mindless drones they were in previous games.
City-states have also had a drastic overhaul in Civilization 6. City-states are no longer important to the Diplomatic Victory option but are used to boost a civilization overall through the new envoy system. Envoys will give players things like production, cultural, and trade bonuses that increase as the number of envoys do.
There is still no doubt that, despite what a Civilization 6 review can say about these big changes, the spirit of the game is still present. Players still establish cities and grow armies that expand an empire. They have to make scientific and cultural choices from a tech tree according to how the game is flowing as it moves across the ages. Trade, religion, and culture still rise and fall against warring civilizations ready to take your lush and fertile lands.
Product Specs
Firaxis announced the minimum and recommended specs before any Civilization 6 review could be written showing that the game was designed to be as optimized as it could be.
Civilization 6 is a PC game with a size of 12GB that works on most Windows operating systems (Windows 7,8.1, and 10 at 64bit). The processor requirements reach as low as an Intel Core i3 2.5 GHz or AMD Phenom II 2.6 GHz, but they recommend a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz or AMD FX8350 4.0 GHz or greater. The memory ranges from 4GB to 8GB of RAM while the video card ranges from 1GB to 2GB. We recommend that players have either an AMD 7970 or nVidia 770 video card, but an AMD 5570 or nVidia 450 would do just fine. Most players live in a digital download world, but a DVD installation is available, provided you still have a DVD-ROM.
The relatively low specifications of Civilization 6 allows it freedom from PC or console. It was made available on iPad in December 2017 and will be released to the Nintendo Switch in November 2018. While it has limitations on the Switch, such as having only four-person multi-player, Nintendo fans are still relishing at the thought of their settlements at their coffee tables instead of their desk.
Pricing
The amount any Civilization fan will spend on Civilization 6 depends on what is included in the version they are looking for. The base version runs for around $60. The Digital Deluxe pack includes the 25th Anniversary Digital Soundtrack, four post-launch DLC packs that will add new maps, scenarios, civilizations, and leaders for a bundled discount at around $80. Many Civilization 6 reviews fail to mention the deluxe version, but some concentrate on DLC, so that will affect prices as well. You can buy it on Steam, Amazon, Newegg, or from the Humble Store from the Humble Bundle.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- Age of Empires
- Age of Wonders II
- Endless Legend
Civilization 6
[amazon box=”B07HH8ZSMM”]
- PRICE
- STORYLINE
- GRAPHICS
- CONTROLS
- GAMEPLAY
The prices for Civilization 6 are standard for most strategy games of its caliber. The regular prices of DLC and expansions are also standard to most 4X strategy games. We give it a rating of $$.
2.0 of 5 stars
Players create their tale through what they can do with the geopolitics and exploration of their cities and map. They can pick the Indian civilization and create a religious empire, or choose Macedonia and become a conqueror for additional bonuses Besides that, there is not much else on narrative, so this Civilization 6 review gives it a 2 out of 5 stars.
3.0 of 5 stars
The Civilization 6 reviews of diehard fans have been rather mixed. It has mostly come due to expectations that Firaxis Games would continue their development of realistic graphics. In their opinion, the game looks like it has plateaued in this part. However, this is by design so it can be easier on the video card needed to play the game, adding to the (already long) game lifespan. We give Civilization 6’s graphics 3 out of 5 stars.
1.0 of 5 stars
The default camera options on Civilization 6 is used by pointing the mouse to the screen’s borders or using the arrow keys. This annoys many players who are used to the traditional placement of their fingers on the WASD keys. Players will have to make edits in game files to make changes for preferred camera options. The all-new system is under the player’s control through a UI that has had conflicting opinions between fans. We give control options 1 out of 5 stars.
4.0 of 5 stars
Like any other Civilization 6 review will tell you, players settle cities, develop tiles, train units, create diplomatic ties, and wage war against other factions. The new features, such as the previously mentioned districts and the separate tech tree for culture and civics, now create a world filled with unique urban sprawls and governments. The AI still has issues, especially with war, but it is not something that makes them entirely broken. We give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
PROS
- Designed for installation on most computers (and some devices)
- Overall gameplay has been changed with unique additions
- Streamlined improvements on existing mechanics
CONS
- Awkward camera controls
- Slight downgrade in graphics from the previous version
- AI can be dumb sometimes
Age of Empires
[amazon box=”B00004ZB2I”]
Age of Empires is a real-time strategy game. This history-based video game has the play lead one of 12 civilizations as they advance through 4 ages (Stone, Tool, Bronze, and Iron).
- PRICE
- STORYLINE
- GRAPHICS
- CONTROLS
- GAMEPLAY
The Definite Edition of the classic strategy game runs at around $20. That fits with the changes Microsoft has made with a game that has had a legacy as long as that of the Civilization series. We give it a rating score of $$.
3.0 of 5 stars
Age of Empires has missions that are free-for-all death matches between colonies, but for those who want to hold on to a taste of history, they can use campaign missions. There are challenges where resources are limited and enemies have the upper hand. But what players have to their advantage are unique hero units inspired by military or mythological figures. We give this 3 out of 5 stars.
1.0 of 5 stars
Age of Empires, resting on nostalgia, is also working along outright obsolete levels of graphics. The original game can easily work on almost any smartphone. The Definite Edition overhauled its graphics, adding 4K resolution. We give it 1 out of 5 stars.
1.0 of 5 stars
No matter where you click your units, the pathfinding has a certain quirk that takes them in directions that eventually get them stuck. This will lead to a tedious point-and-click that is the height of micromanagement. We give this 1 out of 5 stars.
5.0 of 5 stars
This is one of the most influential real-time strategy games created and is the inspiration of the many that have come since. Despite any of its flaws, the ability for players to use settlers and soldiers to walk around growing their town into a dynasty is addicting. Its multi-player function is a fast-paced battle of will against armies that is undeniably fun and requires skill. We give this 5 out of 5 stars.
PROS
- A classic real-time strategy game
- Solid multi-player options
CONS
- Poor graphics
- Awkward unit movements
Age of Wonders II
[amazon box=”B00005YTYK”]
This turn-based strategy game from Triumph Studios was well received by its existing fan base. A fantasy world sets the stage for players to fulfill their role as a spell-casting wizard.
- PRICE
- STORYLINE
- GRAPHICS
- CONTROLS
- GAMEPLAY
This game is small (around 500 MB!) and so is its price. It runs at around $10. For a game that came out eight years ago, that is a bargain. We give that $ for a price rating.
4.0 of 5 stars
When game studios create a themed strategy game, it has to come with a primary single-player campaign to go with it. In Age of Wonders II, they are immersed in 20 scenarios filled with action, suspense, and intrigue. You play as Merlin and battle other wizards to calm the forces of magic throughout the lands. We give the engrossing, lore-filled story 4 out of 5 stars.
2.0 of 5 stars
The game is lean as far as art is concerned. It uses a 32-bit color palette for art, but the game developers improved overall graphics in comparison to the original game. But since this is a game from 2010, its aesthetic is light-years behind what is considered the standard today. We give it a 2 out of 5 stars.
3.0 of 5 stars
The game’s interface does a good job of moving players from important points of interests. They can jump from their centaur to their town seamlessly. Age of Wonders II does not have many hotkeys, however, and the UI can get cramped as more windows pop up, giving this 3 out of 5 stars.
4.0 of 5 stars
There is nothing cooler than playing as a wizard and playing one in a 4X game is even better. Instead of researching tech, players research spells they can use throughout the map, or in tactical turn-based battles. The many races available allow for unique bonuses to your magical empire and wizarding repertoire. We give it 4 out of 5 stars.
PROS
- Combination of turn-based city expansion and tactical battles
- RPG-game feature found in many fantasy games
- A rich single-player campaign
CONS
- Outdated graphics
- Limited hotkeys
- The UI can take up a lot of the screen
Endless Legend
[amazon box=”B00JWZ2480″]
The sequel to Endless Space, Endless Legend is a turn-based 4X fantasy strategy game brought to us by Amplitude Studios. With one of 11 factions, players dominate the world of Auriga.
- PRICE
- STORYLINE
- GRAPHICS
- CONTROLS
- GAMEPLAY
The amount of gameplay and features Endless Legend gives players works for its indie game price point at around $30. We give this a rating of $$.
4.0 of 5 stars
The setting of Endless Legend makes it a unique “sequel” from a narrative perspective. Players are entranced by the game’s flavor of ghost knights and elves from this fantasy world, but if they look closely, they will see its connection to Endless Space, the sci-fi 4X game made by Amplitude Studios. Factions are created by futuristic versions of vampires while tech-obsessed Vaulters push the edges of science. A masterful play on strategic storytelling that deserves 4 out of 5 stars.
4.0 of 5 stars
A game so pretty requires serious processing and video memory. Amplitude Studios recommends a 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5 coupled with an nVidia GeForce GTX660/AMD ATI HD7850 or better. From full-zoom to the closest shot, Endless Legend provides abundant visuals rarely seen in 4X games, giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
4.0 of 5 stars
The UI is slick and clear compared to that of many of its other indie strategy game brethren. Plus, the menu is not cumbersome. We give this 4 out of 5 stars.
4.0 of 5 stars
The versatility of factions in this game helps set it apart from most Civilization-style games, even if it still works along the same lines. Players build their cities and search for various kinds of resources on different hex tiles. A point-based system controls everything from diplomacy to long-term bonuses to your policies. The tech tree is not straightforward and might confuse players used to the one described to them in Civilization 6 reviews. We give it 4 out of 5 stars.
PROS
- A layered, one-of-a-kind science-fantasy setting
- Stunning visual landscape
CONS
- Cities can be too dependent on resource allocation
- Confusing research tree
Civilization 6 Review Conclusion
The planning and meta-game that a Civilization 6 review describes is just one part of an overall improvement to a game that refuses to be overshadowed by other turn-based strategy games. Many more games will probably come from the new design choices, but in the meantime, it is time to look at how to piece together the perfect district. Overall, we give the game 4 out of 5 stars.