Millennia

Millennia is a perfectly adequate 4X strategy game that will be easy for players to pick up and play. It does not try to reinvent the wheel, for better or for worse.

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"Millennia: Premium Edition is a single-player and multiplayer 4X strategy game spanning 10,000 years of history. Create your own nation, experience different timelines, and dictate the course of history through 10 ages, from the first cities to space travel. Expect good game mechanics, lots of grinding, bugs, and replayability, along with awful graphics and great music."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,022 reviews

gameplay231 positive mentions

graphics113 negative mentions

Innovative mechanics with a unique age system that adds replayability and variety to gameplay.
Engaging resource management and production chains that require strategic planning.
Strong potential for future updates and expansions, with responsive developers addressing community feedback.

Poor AI behavior leading to unbalanced gameplay, with aggressive war declarations and lack of strategic depth.
Graphics and UI are outdated and lack polish, making it difficult to navigate and understand game mechanics.
Lack of meaningful diplomacy options and customization for nations, resulting in a generic feel for different civilizations.

gameplay
756 mentions
31 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Millennia" is characterized by its innovative mechanics, particularly the age system that introduces unique technologies and gameplay elements with each era, enhancing replayability. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, some find the user interface confusing and the combat system lacking clarity. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the 4X genre, though it still requires refinement and balancing to fully realize its potential.
- “The age mechanic is a real highlight, whether that's taking the timeline down a darker path or reaching higher than humanity ever did.”
- “The differing eras is quite an interesting feature as it adds not only different mechanics, but also different techs and units which changes things up.”
- “The national spirit mechanic also allows you to customize and adapt your civilization as the game progresses.”
- “I don't love that every decision has a fanfare of screen openings and cut scenes; yes, I can probably turn it off, but it only took me a few hours of gameplay to get sick of it.”
- “The mechanics are slightly different from Civ, in ways that might be interesting to some, but might also just be overly complicated.”
- “The gameplay features feel unpolished, contributing to a sense that this game was rushed to market without sufficient attention to what makes a game feel complete.”
graphics
525 mentions
13 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread criticism for being outdated and lacking polish, often compared unfavorably to titles from over a decade ago. While some players find the visuals acceptable for a 4X strategy game, many express disappointment with the simplistic and repetitive designs, particularly in combat animations. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics are not a strong point, the gameplay mechanics may still provide an engaging experience for those willing to overlook these visual shortcomings.
- “The graphics are beautiful and traditional, not gaudy and cartoonish like the modern civ games.”
- “I enjoy the art style as a healthy middle ground between Civ V's realism and Civ VI's more stylized look.”
- “The graphics grow on you after a while; I enjoy the style now, although that might be because I like the gameplay so much.”
- “The graphics are frankly outdated, and not in a 'invoking the nostalgia of older games' way.”
- “The graphics are so bad? I don't think most of us play 4x turn-based strategy games for the graphics, so I really am at a loss.”
- “The graphics are pretty terrible, admittedly, but probably no worse than if you loaded Civ 4, which is perfectly playable.”
optimization
166 mentions
10 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a significant concern, with many players reporting severe performance drops in the mid to late game, making it nearly unplayable at times. While some updates have improved performance, issues persist, particularly with graphics and UI, leading to frustration among users. Overall, the game shows promise but requires substantial optimization to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Edit: The September 30 update improved a lot for me in terms of late game performance, so I'm changing my review to positive.”
- “Overall, I think it's got a lot of promise, and any game that I enjoy for 30+ hours feels like a good value to me, but it could be a really good game if they fix the performance issues and add some more interesting maps.”
- “While there are some rough edges at launch, such as performance difficulties (not game breaking, just annoying), I am confident that with time and some updates this game will be extremely well polished and a serious rival to the Civilization series that I love.”
- “The performance degrades severely mid-game and there are a lot of bugs, nothing breaking the game but very annoying, especially the one that keeps focusing the screen on a weird place on the map.”
- “Late-game performance issues are inevitable, with long turn times and freezes.”
- “The game currently struggles with late game performance even on a regularly sized map.”
replayability
91 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its innovative age system and diverse national spirits, which encourage varied strategies and playstyles in each session. Players appreciate the depth and complexity introduced by these features, making each playthrough feel distinct and engaging. However, some reviewers note that the lack of significant differences between nations can limit replayability, despite the overall mechanics being enjoyable and rewarding.
- “The ages system is so much fun and provides so much replayability and challenge.”
- “The combination of alternate ages and the many different national spirits really ups the replayability of the game.”
- “It's just such a fascinating and cool concept, adding so much depth, replayability, and flavor.”
- “While this (and the custom nation builder) are great for those who like lots of customization, it places a huge limit on replayability when every nation you play is essentially the same.”
- “Starting age, features (such as religion) on/off, etc. this lack of customization options severely limits replayability and strategic depth.”
- “The graphics are low quality, the sound design is average, the replayability is pretty badly thought out since you can't adjust or edit the world you want to play in.”
grinding
51 mentions
6 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and slow, particularly in the late game where micromanagement and repetitive mechanics detract from enjoyment. The age system, while initially interesting, becomes a slog due to its execution, leading to frustration with prolonged gameplay and lack of meaningful progression. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of balance and engaging mechanics, making it feel more like a chore than a fun experience.
- “The realm expansion feels rewarding, as the natural borders grow in a way that isn't too tedious, allowing for strategic manipulation.”
- “Grinding in this game is satisfying because it offers a sense of progression without becoming overly repetitive.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are designed to feel engaging, making each step towards improvement enjoyable.”
- “Worse still, unless you force peace, the AI will never peace out of a war, making an already slow game a tedious slog.”
- “The game becomes tedious as it prevents players from significantly advancing or customizing their starting age, forcing a slow and repetitive progression through the ages.”
- “Overall it is tedious and painful, and the more turns, the worse the performance.”
stability
31 mentions
10 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly during late-game scenarios. While some users note that the game runs smoothly with minimal downtime, many others experience significant freezing, lag, and unresponsive mechanics, especially in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is considered unpolished at release, with a mix of minor and major stability concerns that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs impressively fast with little downtime and no glitches.”
- “Also runs great on the deck.”
- “From what I've heard online, the game is also rather bug-free.”
- “Thus far, the synchronous play is a little buggy, and we've not managed to complete a game (though we have got to the endgame where it was pretty much decided).”
- “Game has several freezing bugs and upgrade glitches that need to be worked out before the game is playable in full.”
- “Late-game performance issues are inevitable, with long turn times and freezes.”
music
27 mentions
30 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the quality and thematic changes across different ages, particularly highlighting standout tracks from the "age of revolutions" and "age of heroes." However, many users find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking in standout pieces, expressing a desire for more variety and options to customize the music experience. Overall, while there are moments of great music, the inconsistency and repetitiveness detract from the overall immersion.
- “Music and UI are well done, and it gives you the information you need when you want it.”
- “Some of the music is just fantastic, especially the Age of Revolutions and Age of Heroes, but it does get repetitive if you are in one age for a while.”
- “The OST is awesome and fits perfectly with the ages I've experienced so far.”
- “Music feels just irritating and repetitive.”
- “The soundtrack is also terrible.”
- “- weak soundtrack: no good standout tracks and I found the music starting to get quite repetitive after only 4 hours of play.”
- “But this is unbelievably rough, and the immersion is the worst I've seen in a 4X in some time: no voiced narrator, no leader screen and unique music upon meeting someone.”
story
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the age progression and unique quests that enhance gameplay and storytelling, while others criticize the lack of depth in diplomatic interactions and the generic feel of different nations. Although the age of heroes and discovery introduce engaging mechanics, many feel that the overall narrative lacks variety and richness, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, while there are moments of strong storytelling potential, the execution leaves players wanting more.
- “Fun game, I like how the age progression shapes the story and gameplay.”
- “The age of heroes sending people on quests and the age of discovery going on expeditions added so much flavor!”
- “Not only does it have strong storytelling through those systems, but it makes city building and management more interesting than any other 4X I've seen with Anno-esque production chains.”
- “But your options for talking to other nations are bare bones without sending an envoy on a frustrating mission of getting roadblocked by 'friendly' units, and still anemic if you do manage to get there.”
- “China and Germany don't look or feel different; it's difficult to have an emergent story when everything looks the same.”
- “Even in other games like the Warhammer 4X games, there were ample bits of text for things like quests and interactions, while here things feel... bland and generic.”
humor
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its absurd scenarios and alternative historical events, which players find both entertaining and unexpectedly funny. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of exaggerated situations, such as leading an army of tanks in a fundamentalist faction, and the intentionally low-quality graphics that contribute to a humorous experience. Overall, the game's humor is described as a mix of hilariously bad elements and amusing gameplay moments that resonate well with players looking for a lighthearted experience.
- “I really enjoyed the more modern ages; for example, if you kept your religion aspect around, you could advance into a fundamentalist faction and then coerce other nations to convert and then denounce the heathens. Hahaha, that was hilarious and awesome.”
- “Let Icarus survive from the Age of Heroes and lead an army of tanks; it's quite a hilarious scenario, and it also makes me want to explore the ages I haven't set foot into.”
- “The combat animation is so bad it becomes hilarious, well meme-worthy.”
monetization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization strategies in various games, such as Total War and Cities: Skylines II, have drawn criticism for relying heavily on DLCs and microtransactions, often perceived as cash grabs. While some titles like Eras offer unique gameplay experiences, the overall sentiment reflects disappointment in how passion projects are overshadowed by aggressive monetization practices.
- “Notable examples include Total War's 'Shadows of Change' DLC and 'Total War: Pharaoh', Cities: Skylines II's beachfront properties, Victoria 3's 'Voice of the People', a number of HOI IV/EU IV/CK III DLCs to choose from, almost all of EA's The Sims 4 DLCs, and Ubisoft's descent into microtransactions.”
- “It's such a shame to see something that has passion behind it be crushed in what feels like another Paradox cash grab.”
- “Notable examples include Total War's Shadows of Change DLC and Total War Pharaoh, Cities: Skylines II's beachfront properties, Victoria 3's Voice of the People, a number of HOI IV/EU IV/CK III DLCs to choose from, almost all of EA's The Sims 4 DLCs, and Ubisoft's descent into microtransactions.”
- “It's the opposite of minimalist incremental EA Sports year-over-year cash grabs.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game does not prioritize emotional connections with characters, suggesting that players could engage with it even if the characters were simplistic. Instead, it focuses on innovative gameplay within the 4X genre, which has captivated even seasoned players of similar titles. However, some users express concerns about the high costs associated with certain in-game actions, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “You're not supposed to form an emotional bond with them; they could literally be stick figures with equipment, and it would work just fine.”
- “The game has a completely unique take on the 4X genre and innovates it in so many ways that I, a veteran and enjoyer of Civ, sincerely doubt that I will be touching Civ any time soon.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive sound effects and nostalgic graphics, creating a compelling and engaging environment for players.
- “The sound effects are extremely atmospheric.”
- “I personally like the graphics; they create a reminiscent atmosphere.”