Sid Meier's Civilization IV

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,616 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Sid Meier's Civilization IV Game Cover
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"Sid Meier's Civilization IV" is a turn-based strategy game where players build and manage their own civilization from ancient times to the modern age. The game features various historical leaders, technologies, and units, as well as a dynamic world and diplomacy system. Players must balance economic development, scientific research, cultural growth, and military strength to achieve victory through peaceful means or conquest.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,616 reviews
gameplay40 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • Civilization IV is widely regarded as the best entry in the franchise, offering deep strategic gameplay and a variety of ways to achieve victory.
  • The game features a rich modding community and expansions like Beyond the Sword, which enhance the gameplay experience significantly.
  • The soundtrack, including the Grammy-winning 'Baba Yetu,' adds to the immersive experience, making it a memorable game.
  • The AI can be frustratingly unpredictable, often leading to sudden and unprovoked wars, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • Some players find the combat mechanics unbalanced, with lower-tier units defeating advanced ones due to random chance.
  • The game can be buggy on modern systems, leading to crashes and other technical issues that detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay118 mentions

    The gameplay of Sid Meier's Civilization IV is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, intricate diplomacy system, and strategic depth, making it both intellectually stimulating and addictive. Players appreciate the balance between complexity and accessibility, with many considering it a definitive entry in the series that successfully retains the core elements while introducing new features like religion and improved city management. Despite some dated graphics and minor frustrations with combat mechanics, the overall experience is described as immersive and rewarding, appealing to both new and veteran players of turn-based strategy games.

    • “From its engaging gameplay mechanics to its intricate diplomacy system, Civilization IV is an experience that is as fun as it is intellectually stimulating.”
    • “At the heart of Civilization IV lies the core of its gameplay, which revolves around building a thriving civilization from scratch.”
    • “The gameplay is captivating, almost dangerously addictive.”
    • “Later versions changed the core gameplay a lot and added complexity which doesn't really complement the game at all.”
    • “The UI, slow gameplay (even for a turn-based strategy), and bland design turned me right off.”
    • “While the combat mechanic for this game seems to be a step back from the 'Call to Power' games, the rest of the game is a significant improvement over what came before.”
  • graphics79 mentions

    The graphics of Sid Meier's Civilization IV are generally considered dated but serviceable, with many players acknowledging that while they may not compete with modern titles, they were a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. The visuals are described as clear and functional, enhancing the gameplay experience despite their age, and the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and immersive soundtrack. Overall, while the graphics may not be the main draw, they contribute positively to the game's enduring appeal.

    • “In addition to its gameplay, Civilization IV also boasts stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that immerses players in the game's world.”
    • “With its in-depth gameplay, impressive graphics (for its time), outstanding soundtrack, and high replayability, it set new standards for the series and the genre as a whole.”
    • “The graphics look nice and are obviously improved from Civ III.”
    • “The graphics are aged, sure, the sound design is rough around the edges, and even through my extremely rose-tinted glasses I can acknowledge that it has its jank and weird moments, but getting through that rewards you with an endlessly replayable experience, always fresh, always there, always ready for you to make your mark on the world.”
    • “Overall, graphics are dated but serviceable, and gameplay is very fun!”
    • “The graphics are playable, but that’s just because of how old it is, but the gameplay is where this game shines.”
  • music66 mentions

    The music in Civilization IV is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the award-winning track "Baba Yetu" as a standout feature that evokes nostalgia and enhances the gaming experience. While some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive, the overall quality and era-specific compositions are considered among the best in the series, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere. Many players express a strong emotional connection to the music, often citing it as a key reason for their fondness for the game.

    • “Accompanying these potentially endless games are decent graphics that are clear to understand despite the complexity of the system and an incredibly (and award-winning!) soundtrack.”
    • “The use of classical music (based on the age you are in), the game music, and the memorable title screen song together make one of the best soundtracks in a game ...ever.”
    • “Whether you have, or have not played this game before, I recommend it for nothing else other than nostalgia and the song 'Baba Yetu'.”
    • “Outside of the famously incredible title theme, the music is quite boring; there are some odd sound effect choices, and the jump to 3D visuals had mixed results.”
    • “The same song being used throughout the entire game with different time period sound fonts felt like a broken record, and at some points, I don't know when it transitioned to another era.”
    • “So what happens is it plays the 'world theme' unless you zoom in, and then it plays your 'civilization theme.' It gets louder and softer depending on your zoom level, and there is a spot in between where it plays no music basically.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, offering endless entertainment through various win conditions, map types, and user-generated content. Despite its aged graphics and occasional jankiness, players find the gameplay engaging and rewarding, making it a favorite for repeated play. Many reviewers recommend it over its sequels due to its superior replay value and depth.

    • “The graphics are aged, sure, the sound design is rough around the edges, and even through my extremely rose-tinted glasses I can acknowledge that it has its jank and weird moments, but getting through that rewards you with an endlessly replayable experience, always fresh, always there, always ready for you to make your mark on the world.”
    • “Incredibly high replayability and the historical aspect of it is perfect for a history nerd such as myself.”
    • “Tons of mods and user-created content provide for hundreds of hours of replayability.”
    • “Micromanaging can be exceptionally time-consuming, which can make longer games boring and hurts replayability.”
    • “If you are deciding between Civ IV and Civ V, I would recommend Civ IV because it has more replayability than Civ V.”
  • story15 mentions

    The story aspect of Civilization is characterized by its emphasis on player-driven narratives, where decisions lead to meaningful consequences, enhancing the overall experience. However, many users feel that the game lacks a traditional, structured story, with some even dismissing its narrative significance entirely. Overall, the game's storytelling is seen as more about the emergent experiences from gameplay rather than a defined plot.

    • “Civilization asks you how you want to conquer the world and then turns you loose to pursue that goal in a world where every decision results in a tradeoff or consequence that adds layers and layers of meaning to your story. - ign, 2015”
    • “Kudos to the devs for making Civ IV, I'm a long-time gamer going back to games like Manhunter in New York, Police Quest series, Hero's Quest series (now called Quest for Glory), Wing Commander series, Leisure Suit Larry series and the likes.”
    • “Rather than write a story about my gaming experience, I'm just going to say that after looking through the other positive and negative reviews, I have noticed that neither truly bring to light all aspects of this game.”
    • “Story: not much of one”
    • “What I don't particularly care about are the graphics, the story, or the 'immersive experience' of feeling like I'm really talking to Cleopatra.”
    • “☑ no story”
  • stability12 mentions

    The stability of the game on Steam has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, including issues with population growth, unavailability of researched improvements, and frequent freezes or crashes. Many players have experienced graphical glitches and non-responsive gameplay, particularly on Windows 11, leading to frustration with the overall stability and the inadequate reporting system for these issues. Despite these problems, some still regard it as a classic experience worth having.

    • “The original format (CD-ROM) was bug-free.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the online multiplayer experience is.”
    • “Unfortunately this version on Steam is buggy as hell - populations don't increase despite having a huge food surplus (doesn't show there is any food production in city view), improvements you have researched (mining, pasture, irrigation, etc.) become unavailable at random points in the game and both these issues last for random amounts of time - sometimes one turn, sometimes 20 turns or more.”
    • “This online version, however, is very buggy; keyboard and mouse dismount and remount every 5 minutes and frozen (non-responsive) game are troublesome.”
    • “Classic game but quite buggy... freezes.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. While some acknowledge that the effort can lead to rewarding outcomes, many express frustration with the extensive time required to progress, suggesting that it may demand more commitment than they are willing to give.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game can get a little tedious on a large map with many cities and somehow you'll find yourself playing for many hours without realizing it.”
    • “After I finished my first super long space race victory game, I found the space race in this game to be very tedious and feels like a chore, especially compared to Civ Revolutions. I was super surprised at all the global warming near the end of the game; it was out of control with 3-4 tiles every turn turning to desert in my main cities, and it was really frustrating.”
    • “I found the game to be painstakingly tedious.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness and depth, with players appreciating the comedic elements woven into historical themes and gameplay mechanics. Many found the sound effects amusing, enhancing the overall lighthearted experience, while some moments, like unexpected global warming consequences, added a humorous twist to the challenges faced. Overall, the game balances educational content with a strong sense of humor, making it engaging and entertaining.

    • “A more simple game than Civ V or VI, but even more funny.”
    • “Incredible depth, good sense of humor, good game balance.”
    • “Great, learn about history, get the big picture, lots of humor, many choices, 6000 year history, present and future, great music.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally criticized, particularly in comparison to other editions, with some users noting performance issues even on older hardware. While the gameplay is enjoyable, it struggles to run smoothly on less capable systems, indicating a need for better optimization.

    • “The game runs surprisingly well on older hardware, even on a 2013 laptop without gaming optimization.”
    • “While the game is enjoyable, the colonization aspect feels less optimized compared to the other three in the complete edition.”
    • “Do they run well on a laptop from 2013 with no gaming optimization and a charging port that you need to use duct tape to make work?”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on high-end hardware.”
    • “I experienced frequent crashes and long loading times, which severely impacted my enjoyment.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with nostalgic experiences evoking strong feelings, such as tears when revisiting the main menu music after years. This highlights the game's significant impact on their childhood and the lasting memories associated with it.

    • “I cried when I heard the main menu music again after not playing it for over 8 years.”
    • “This was a huge part of my childhood, and hearing that menu music after starting it up after so long is heart-wrenching, having deprived myself of that beautiful song for so long.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Many users feel that Civ VI's monetization strategy is overly aggressive, leading to perceptions of it being a cash grab rather than a fair pricing model.

    • “Civ VI just takes a complete nosedive and feels like a total cash grab!”
    • “The monetization in this game is excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It feels like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating to enjoy the game.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, contributing significantly to the overall experience, alongside its excellent controls and engaging gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is rich and captivating, making every moment feel alive.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Sid Meier's Civilization IV

Play time

144hMedian play time
127hAverage play time
13hMain story
117hCompletionist
10-300hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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