CivIdle

About

CivIdle is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by FishPond and was released on December 4, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

CivIdle is a strategy game featuring both single-player and multiplayer modes, where you expand your empire’s territory, culture, and technology across procedurally generated maps. With a vast tech tree of 100+ technologies, engaging trade and diplomacy, and world wonders to build, players experience deep mechanics and plenty of grinding for growth and influence.

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 491 reviews

gameplay27 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a satisfying progression system.
Active community support through in-game chat, providing help and tips.
Unique blend of civilization-building and idle mechanics, allowing for both active and passive play.

Confusing UI and lack of clear tutorials make it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
Slow progression and reliance on active playtime can be frustrating, especially with a 48-hour requirement for full functionality.
Gameplay can feel repetitive and grindy, with many actions leading to similar outcomes.

gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a satisfying loop that combines active and idle mechanics, offering depth and complexity through a large tech tree and various progression systems. While many players appreciate the engaging mechanics and the ability to experiment with different strategies, some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics frustrating. Overall, it successfully captivates both newcomers and veterans of the genre, though opinions vary on the balance between active engagement and passive progression.
- “The large tech tree adds a strong sense of advancement, gradually unlocking new mechanics rather than overwhelming you all at once.”
- “The gameplay loop is surprisingly satisfying, and there’s a lot of depth to explore.”
- “This game successfully captivates players with its simplistic yet engaging mechanics, ensuring that even those new to the genre can easily grasp the concept while offering enough depth to keep veterans entertained.”
- “The gameplay loop is about watching a kettle boil, and the kettle takes a really really really long time to boil.”
- “I really wanted to like this game but the algorithm/mechanics related to transportation were so frustrating at even low levels that I can't imagine how infuriating it would be at higher levels... so I decided to tap out.”
- “The game has a prestige mechanic, rebirth.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The graphics of Cividle are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic art style, primarily featuring basic icons and a clean user interface reminiscent of older operating systems. While some players appreciate the vibrant colors and charming animations, others feel that the lack of detailed visuals detracts from the experience of building a civilization. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in an idle game context, but many reviewers suggest that additional visual elements could enhance engagement.
- “Plus, the art style is clean and vibrant, with charming animations that keep things visually engaging while you watch your empire grow.”
- “- beautifully simple art style”
- “Aesthetic: wonderful”
- “Having a flat, mostly featureless board except for some nebulous resource deposits and a very minimalist (to say the least) art style doesn't lend itself well to actually building a civilization or city that feels in any way real.”
- “Overall, it's still an idler; the graphics are very basic, and there's definitely a 'click and come back 30 minutes later' feel in the midgame.”
- “Graphics are simple line sketches against a default charcoal gray background.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the depth of micromanagement and city planning, many feel that the repetitive nature of resource management and leveling up can be tedious and unfulfilling. The game offers opportunities for permanent buffs through restarts, which can mitigate some grindiness, but the overall sentiment leans towards it being a laborious process, especially in the early access phase. Additionally, monetization options appear to cater more to multiplayer aspects, leaving some players wishing for more streamlined gameplay to reduce the grind.
- “There's no other civs to fight, it's tedious for no real reason, and the numbers going up aren't particularly satisfying.”
- “Because it's work - and it's tedious.”
- “There are several game bonuses associated with leveling up in the premium account which is only done through grinding out the game, at least as of right now.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with frequent freezes and bugs reported by users. While some players find charm in the glitches, many express frustration over the lack of support and persistent issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game requires further refinement to improve its stability.
- “Buggy game with no support.”
- “The game freezes all the freaking time.”
- “The game gets buggy as it goes on, and resources are not well employed.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game is praised for its ethical monetization model, being free-to-play with optional expansions and no microtransactions, ads, or pay-to-win elements. Players appreciate the developers' commitment to a fair gaming experience, emphasizing a smooth performance even on modest systems.
- “Best of all, it’s free and fair - no microtransactions.”
- “The game runs smoothly even on modest systems, and the free-to-play base with optional expansions shows the developers care about the players more than microtransactions.”
- “There are no ads and no purchasable one-time bonuses.”
- “Together, we shall weather the storm of microtransactions and loot boxes, standing tall against the tide of pay-to-win villains like noble knights in a digital crusade.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on modest systems and prioritizing player experience over microtransactions. While the interface could benefit from some improvements, players are encouraged to engage in constant re-optimization of their city layouts and mechanics for better efficiency. Overall, the game offers a satisfying balance of accessibility and depth in its optimization aspects.
- “The game runs smoothly even on modest systems, and the free-to-play base with optional expansions shows the developers care about the players more than microtransactions.”
- “While it has idle aspects, there is a high degree of opportunity for pretty much constant re-optimization in a completely trivial set of mechanics that forces, or at least encourages you to actually think if you want to get the most out of your building order/placement.”
- “There's plenty of optimizations you can make to how your city is built out, meaning that if you have a poorly designed city, things will take longer than they need to.”
- “I think some interface in the game can be optimized, like maybe a separate window for when I want to look at my inventory/player market.”
- “There is a high degree of opportunity for constant re-optimization in a completely trivial set of mechanics that encourages you to think if you want to get the most out of your building order and placement.”
- “If you have a poorly designed city, things will take longer than they need to, highlighting the importance of optimization in city building.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability due to its engaging empire growth, tech progression, and innovative time-travel mechanics, making it a well-crafted choice for strategy enthusiasts. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and depth, contributing to its lasting appeal.
- “A solid choice for players who enjoy gradual empire growth, tech progression, and replayable strategy runs.”
- “The game's replay value is a testament to its well-crafted design.”
- “Its innovative time-travel mechanics, coupled with simplicity and replay value, make it a standout title in the genre.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is notably positive and supportive, with ample assistance available through chat and Discord, distinguishing it from the often toxic environments found in other communities.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “The game's atmosphere is filled with tension and excitement, making every moment feel impactful and engaging.”
- “The community contributes to a welcoming atmosphere, making it easy to connect with others and share experiences.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is characterized by its lighthearted humor and nostalgic Windows XP aesthetic, creating a relaxed and amusing experience for players.
- “A funny, chill game that brings back Windows XP vibes.”
- “The humor is spot-on, making every moment enjoyable.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and quirky characters.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is not a standout feature, as players often find it repetitive and prefer to listen to their own music or watch videos while playing. This suggests that the game's soundtrack may not be engaging enough to hold players' attention during extended sessions.
- “A relaxing idle sim, building structures and rebirthing, this game has it all. The music adds a soothing backdrop that enhances the overall experience.”
- “A relaxing idle sim, building structures and rebirthing, this game has it all, but gets boring after a while. It's best to multitask, such as watching YouTube or listening to music while it's idling.”