Idle Civilization
- November 23, 2015
- Very Simple Idea Studios
- 227h median play time
Get on Steam"Idle Civilization" is a game that combines elements of idle and civilization-building genres. Starting with a pair of villagers, players build and grow their village, eventually turning it into a kingdom and then an empire. The game offers depth and complexity with features such as trading, raiding, and hero missions. While it started as an idle game, it has evolved into a full-fledged civilization builder with much to offer.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game has a unique timing mechanism that portrays real-time, which some players found to be a brilliant idea.
- It can be a fun and engaging idle game for those who enjoy the genre, providing a decent amount of content for casual play.
- Some players appreciated the game's potential and enjoyed it while it lasted, noting that it was a good time-waster.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or fixes for years, leading to numerous bugs and broken mechanics.
- Many players reported that the game is unplayable due to critical issues, such as resolution problems and missing features.
- Overall, the game is considered a cash grab with little to no hope for future development, making it not worth the investment.
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing them as outdated and reminiscent of the 1980s, citing numerous bugs and oversights. However, some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the style, suggesting it enhances the overall experience, while others note that improvements are expected in future updates. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant area needing enhancement, but they do evoke a sense of nostalgia for some players.
“But the new graphics are great!”
“Many people pointed out the 'bad' graphics of this game, but I have to say I like the style of it very much.”
“It reminds me of some good old gems back in the days, but this graphic adds much to the feeling of idle civilization.”
“Graphics are state-of-the-art, right out of the 1980s (more than Pong).”
“This shows in the countless little bugs, oversights, mistakes, missing button graphics, and wrong numbers that would be easy to see and easy to fix.”
“Graphics are pretty bad.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being unbalanced and lacking depth, with core mechanics, particularly the idle system, failing to function as intended, rendering the game unplayable for many. Players report a lack of endgame content and clunky menu navigation, leading to a repetitive experience that doesn't evolve beyond initial conquests. While there are choices to focus on war or economy, the overall execution feels shallow and uninspired, with many feeling the game has significant untapped potential.
“You can, however, decide if you want to focus more on war or economy per colony, which might affect some of the gameplay.”
“It's a different take on the genre, while employing essentially all of the same old mechanics.”
“Graphics is idle, gameplay is idle, nothing special effects but gives boost on your civilization, war with other civilizations but with less brutality but more idle war.”
“I wouldn’t mind that much that this game is abandoned or incomplete (even though it’s a pity, because there was potential) but compared to the fact that one of the most important core mechanics and in-game upgrading system that is based around the whole idea - it’s even in the freaking title: idle - does not work, it’s unacceptable and makes the game unplayable, at least in the way that it was actually intended and supposed to.”
“I tried, I really, really tried, 300 hours I tried, this game just isn't worth playing. There is no end game; you conquer the war game in less than 3 hours of gameplay, and then you're just upgrading things in an increasingly ridiculous prestige system. The menuing sucks, and the game just doesn't flow; it's clunky.”
“Sadly, each building uses only up to two different resources - more depth would have been good here, even if it wouldn't change the gameplay much.”
- music7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players find the soundtrack fantastic and reminiscent of old school RuneScape, others criticize the repetitive looping of tracks and express a desire for new music and updates. Overall, the music is appreciated but could benefit from more variety.
“I love the music too.”
“Edit: btw the soundtrack is fantastic.”
“I can't even play the game because every time I launch it, it immediately goes into a white screen, but I can hear the music.”
“Edit: the music also sounds like old school RuneScape, that's just my opinion.”
“Also listening to the same music track loop over and over gets tedious.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, with some players finding it excessively tedious, especially due to offline exploration resets. However, fans of similar "grindy" games may appreciate the balance between grinding and progression, as well as the ability to restart periodically. Repetitive music also contributes to the overall sense of monotony.
“It's way too grindy.”
“Exploration reset doesn't work when you're offline, making the game even more tedious.”
“Also listening to the same music track loop over and over gets tedious.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a "cash grab," with users expressing frustration over its prolonged "early access" status and perceived lack of ongoing development after initial release. Despite these concerns, some players still find the game enjoyable and recommend it, indicating a mixed reception regarding its monetization strategy.
“8 years of 'early access' aka Steam cash grab and stop development after 1 year after release.”
“I see other reviews mentioning it was a cash grab.”
“Could have been a great game; it's fun, a good little idle game, but the dev just made a quick cash grab.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with users reporting it as severely buggy and even broken, leading to a strong warning against playing it.
“I don't mean a little buggy; I mean broken.”
“If I don't have anything good to say, I just tend to shut up, but in this case, I'm just trying to warn people away from a buggy and broken game.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story features engaging hero quests and unique encounters, although the protagonist cannot die, leading to a sense of wasted time if missions are failed.
“The hero quests are engaging and offer unique experiences that keep the player invested in the story.”
“While the hero can't die, the possibility of failing a mission adds a layer of tension and urgency to the narrative.”
“The hero can't die, but he can fail the mission, resulting in just wasting time.”
“The plot is predictable and lacks any real depth or twists.”
“Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
