Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

About

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Firaxis Games and was released on July 24, 2007. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV®: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year that has become a worldwide hit. The expansion focuses on the time periods after the invention of gunpowder and delivers 11 unique and challenging scenarios created by the development team at Firaxis as well as esteemed members of the Community. Beyond the Sword also inclu…

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Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword screenshot

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

optimization3 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The game may feel outdated compared to newer entries in the series, particularly in graphics and mechanics.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
25%
75%
Overall, the graphics of Civ IV, particularly in its Beyond the Sword expansion, are praised for being better than those in Civ V and are considered more appealing than earlier iterations like Civ II and Civ III, which now appear outdated. The visuals are noted for being processor-friendly while maintaining an addictive gameplay experience.
- “I like it better than Civ V for both graphics and rule changes.”
- “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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the game balances graphics and performance, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Gameplay is generally enjoyable, with some mechanics feeling outdated yet still providing fun experiences. Players appreciate the faster pace compared to previous titles, Civ V and VI.
- “In 2020, some of the mechanics are beginning to show their age, but it's still good fun.”
- “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 playful and lighthearted tone that appeals to players' sense of nostalgia and fun.
- “Oh, and you have to think John Wayne (?!?) is a cool dude with a great sense of humor.”

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605h Median play time

605h Average play time

605-605h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a strategy game.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 605 hours playing Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword was released on July 24, 2007.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword was developed by Firaxis Games.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its optimization but disliked it for its graphics.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a single player game.

Similar games include Sid Meier's Civilization IV, Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, Galactic Civilizations IV and others.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

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