Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

About

"Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword" is the second expansion pack for the hit strategy game, focusing on post-gunpowder time periods. It includes 11 new scenarios, 10 civilizations, 16 leaders, 5 wonders, and various new units, all aimed at enriching the late game and providing fresh challenges. An epic game expansion with a focus on additional content and strategic depth.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Highly addictive gameplay that encourages long play sessions and strategic thinking.
Considered by many as the best entry in the Civilization series, offering depth and complexity.
Strong modding community that enhances the game experience and adds variety.

Technical issues on newer operating systems, leading to crashes and performance problems.
Some players find the unit stacking mechanic problematic, making battles less strategic.
The game may feel outdated compared to newer entries in the series, particularly in graphics and mechanics.

graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Overall, the graphics in Civilization IV, particularly in the "Beyond the Sword" expansion, are generally regarded as an improvement over its predecessor, Civilization V, and are considered more appealing than those in earlier iterations like Civ II and Civ III. While some players appreciate the visual style and find it engaging, others note that older versions appear outdated by modern standards, impacting their playability.
- “I like it better than Civ V for both graphics and rule changes.”
- “One of the best iterations of the Civilization theme, Civ IV: Beyond the Sword has highly addictive gameplay and is fairly friendly to processors and graphics cards.”
- “I'm actually not convinced that Civ IV is really a better game inherently than Civ II or Civ III, but their graphics look so poor by contemporary standards that I find them unplayable.”
- “Civ IV's graphics are reminiscent of Civ VI.”
- “One of the best iterations of the civilization theme, Civ IV: Beyond the Sword has highly addictive gameplay and is fairly friendly to processors and graphics cards.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, with a faster pace compared to previous titles like Civ V and VI, although some mechanics are starting to feel outdated.
- “I also like the faster gameplay compared to Civ V and VI.”
- “In 2020, some of the mechanics are beginning to show their age but are still good fun.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes to the desktop, significant bugs, and texture lag issues, leading to an overall impression of it being poorly optimized and reminiscent of abandonware.
- “The game feels like a pile of abandonware: it uses twice the disk space it specifies, crashes to the desktop frequently, is buggy, and has texture lags.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a quirky and unexpected charm, with references to iconic figures like John Wayne, suggesting a blend of nostalgia and playful absurdity.
- “Oh, and you have to think John Wayne (?!?) is a cool dude with a great sense of humor.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization is praised for achieving a balance between complexity and performance, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
- “Just the right level of complexity, good performance.”
- “The optimization in this game strikes a perfect balance, allowing for smooth gameplay without sacrificing depth.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the game mechanics for optimal performance, making every session enjoyable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players highlight an exceptional level of replayability, with many expressing that the game offers a unique experience that encourages them to return repeatedly.
- “I can't think of any other game that's ever had this level of sheer replayability for me.”
- “Every time I play, I discover something new, making each run feel fresh and exciting.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”

Buy Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

605h Median play time

605h Average play time

605-605h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

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