Ara: History Untold

About

In "Ara: History Untold," players build and lead nations across history, faced with exploring new lands, developing arts and culture, conducting diplomacy, and competing against rivals. The game offers a rich and vibrant presentation with innovative mechanics such as a national crafting economy, true simultaneous turn resolution, and a non-linear technology tree, all with cloud-backed synchronous/asynchronous multiplayer. With endless possibilities, your choices have the power to define your world, your experience, and your legacy.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,826 reviews

gameplay127 positive mentions

optimization74 negative mentions

Innovative crafting and production chain system adds depth and complexity to gameplay.
Gorgeous graphics and a living world create an immersive experience.
Unique approach to victory conditions with a focus on prestige rather than traditional win methods.

UI is clunky and overwhelming, making it difficult to manage resources and buildings effectively.
Combat system lacks depth, with no option to upgrade or reorganize units once deployed.
Performance issues, especially on lower-end systems, can hinder gameplay experience.

gameplay
454 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The gameplay of "Ara: History Untold" is characterized by a complex blend of resource management and civilization mechanics, offering a rewarding experience for players who invest time in mastering its systems. While the core gameplay loop is engaging, many users express concerns about the lack of depth in supporting systems like trade and diplomacy, as well as issues with combat mechanics and user interface design. Overall, the game presents a fresh take on the 4X genre, but it requires patience and a willingness to navigate its intricacies, with hopes for future improvements through patches and expansions.
- “Every decision, from internal politics to choices on the global stage, has a tangible impact on your civilization’s destiny, making the gameplay deeply rewarding.”
- “I absolutely love the crafting mechanic, and the way wars are managed is so much more grounded and realistic to me than it has been in Civ in the past.”
- “While Ara: History Untold asks a lot of players, it rewards those willing to put in the hours with a deeply rich gameplay experience that makes them feel like every choice they made shaped their nation and helped their people achieve greatness.”
- “Unfortunately, I don't think there is a way to balance this game because it tries to mix complex resource management mechanics with civilization mechanics.”
- “The UI is terrible and some of the mechanics (like the ridiculous inability to take deployed units and group them together into formations) are just incredibly poorly implemented—not to mention this is not really explained anywhere.”
- “What I disliked - crashes, usually once a game (high spec PC); quite easy even on the normal level; repetitive once you get going, just seem to be mashing the next turn button; combat is uninspiring and unclear; some mechanics such as movement, roads, and religion are clunky; a lot of repetitive tech; interface can make it difficult to find things, so have to hunt around the city; doesn't seem to be clear about how much QoL stats affect a city, one minute all fine and the next it's -255 food.”
optimization
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
65%
23%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on high-end systems. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, others have found the game unplayable at times, leading to frustration. Recent updates have shown promise in improving performance, but many reviewers still feel that further optimization is necessary for a polished experience.
- “Update 1.1 does a lot of small and medium-sized things to make the game smooth (performance and gameplay loop), so if it is a reflection of the continued support the devs will give, then expect a very polished product in the near-term.”
- “It's the best looking game in this genre, and it has fantastic performance, particularly when it comes to loading and AI turns.”
- “Managing this economy is central to the gameplay, and for someone who enjoys optimization games (like myself), this is a really fun addition to the 4X experience.”
- “But the game at this stage has serious performance issues.”
- “How could they release such a non-optimized game!?”
- “Unfortunately, my experience with the game left me deeply disappointed, primarily due to its abysmal performance, even at the lowest settings.”
graphics
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and detail, with many players noting the immersive visuals that bring the world to life. However, some users have reported performance issues, including graphical glitches and frame drops, particularly on certain hardware configurations. Overall, while the graphics are considered stunning and a highlight of the game, optimization remains a concern for many players.
- “The graphics are stunningly beautiful, though they demand high-performance specs to run smoothly.”
- “Great visuals: the game’s graphics are beautiful, making the world come to life in vibrant detail.”
- “I love the graphics, which are detailed and immersive, making each era and city feel alive.”
- “Annoyingly, there are also some graphical glitches (maybe only on NVIDIA cards?), which is a shame on something so lovely to look at.”
- “The graphics are 3rd grade all over the game.”
- “Graphics are abysmal.”
grinding
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the mid to late game, where micromanagement of production chains and crafting systems becomes overwhelming. While some appreciate the depth and complexity, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of managing numerous resources and buildings, often leading to a lack of enjoyment. Despite recent updates aimed at improving these issues, the overall sentiment remains that the game's micromanagement can detract significantly from the experience.
- “The game becomes tedious very quickly and it feels like all you’re doing is micromanaging production chains.”
- “Completely ruined by the tedious crafting and baffling unit management.”
- “The sheer number of choices becomes utterly paralyzing and tedious, leaving the player begging for a more efficient way to offload some of the work.”
music
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
52%
18%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its ability to create a unique atmosphere and enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive, messy, and lacking impact compared to other titles like Civilization VI. Many users noted that the soundtrack can sometimes be distracting or annoying, leading some to mute it entirely. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the music, significant improvements are needed to elevate it to a memorable level.
- “The music and narration add a unique atmosphere, emphasizing the weight of historical events and the player’s decisions.”
- “The soundtrack and score create great ambiance.”
- “The music totally absorbs me into the game, it's super lovely.”
- “Also the UI makes a really annoying sound when you hover an item, and the music is really messy - I think sometimes multiple tracks play and it makes it hard to listen to.”
- “What they'll probably never bounce from are horrifyingly bad music (sound effects in general, in my opinion) and UI from the 90s.”
- “The music isn't memorable, the vibe doesn't evoke anything beyond what Civ does, and if you want to chill out and manage a town for a while, there are hundreds of other offerings on here that are much cheaper and better.”
stability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, freezes, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. However, some users with high-performance setups have experienced smooth gameplay with minimal glitches. Overall, the game appears to be poorly optimized at launch, leading to frustration for those unable to run it effectively.
- “I have seen people complaining about the game's performance; I think that has to do with your PC, not the game, because it runs great on my 4070 RTX 16GB.”
- “Do be aware that it takes a pretty stout graphics card to run this game, but even though my graphics card is not as stout as I would like it to be, after the GPU shaders finished their compilation, which usually takes around 20 minutes, the game runs great. I have never had it crash as of yet, and I have really been enjoying Microsoft's and Oxide's take on a large-scale civ building game.”
- “I don't see the point in paying $89 if I need to run the game on low settings and endure the stutter and the glitches.”
- “It's incredibly buggy and not optimized at all.”
- “I can't even play for more than 10 minutes before it freezes on me.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
13%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players noting that after a few playthroughs, the experience can feel repetitive. While the early game offers diverse and engaging gameplay, concerns remain about the lack of unique civilization-specific elements that could enhance variety in subsequent playthroughs. Some players express optimism for future updates that may improve replay value, but currently, it is seen as "ok" rather than exceptional.
- “The early game is very fun and even on repeated games and starts can be very diverse, which increases replayability.”
- “Time will tell with replay value, but right now I am more likely to play this than Civ 5, 6, Humankind, or Millennia.”
- “🔲 Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “Limited replay value: once you've played through a few civilizations, the gameplay might start to feel a bit repetitive.”
- “Replayability is 'ok' but the game feels the same every time.”
- “I don't think the game is bad enough to not recommend, but there is limited replayability until many of these issues are solved.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is praised for its unique human elements and engaging storytelling, complemented by strong leader selection and appealing graphics. However, players find the frequent events overwhelming and often irrelevant, making it difficult to stay invested in the narrative. Additionally, issues with mission clarity and representation have been noted, suggesting a need for improved communication and inclusivity in storytelling.
- “And it's not because the game is bad, there is a lot to love here with how it has a uniquely human touch, the storytelling elements of the game, the extremely good leader selection, and its lovely graphics while watching the town be built over time.”
- “Dede Korkut, the biggest storyteller and opinion leader of Turkish myths, is a fascinating reference point for the narrative depth in this game.”
- “The game also spams you with events extremely often, often times not being worth it to even read the storytelling and just look at the benefits vs the drawbacks.”
- “I got a spearman and tried to complete the quest; however, I never got a pop-up or even talked to the tribe.”
- “This is a game about the story of your people; well, how about adding the will of the people?”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its impactful music and narration, which underscore the significance of historical events and player choices. Reviewers highlight its spectacular and instructive qualities, noting that it effectively creates an immersive and historically accurate experience.
- “The music and narration add a unique atmosphere, emphasizing the weight of historical events and the player’s decisions.”
- “It is atmospheric, spectacular, historically correct, and instructive.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its comedic elements and finding it superior to similar titles like "Millennia" and "Human Kind." Suggestions for incorporating humorous traits, such as quirky historical figures, further highlight the game's potential for engaging and entertaining content.
- “This game is funny; it's much better than Millenia and humankind.”
- “Maybe you could give them traits that boost prestige after becoming obsolete, like Swiss Guards or funny British palace guards.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for being overly greedy, reminiscent of issues seen in other titles like Civilization, which has led to disappointment among players who were hoping for a more engaging experience. While some players appreciate the game's design and features, the focus on micromanagement and monetization has detracted from the overall enjoyment.
- “I was hoping for a game to fill the void that Civ left when it started going full in on being awful with its greedy monetization, and I got a game that ended up ruining all the hype I had for it, by just being a game about micromanagement.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, as players feel that the AI's unpredictable aggression undermines the potential for meaningful interactions and connections. This randomness detracts from the overall emotional engagement, suggesting that the game requires further development in this area.