Sid Meier's Civilization V

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 148,426 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
Sid Meier's Civilization V Game Cover
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Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game focused on building and developing a civilization from ancient times to the modern age. Players can choose from various historical leaders, each with unique abilities and units, to expand their empire through research, diplomacy, and warfare. The game features enhanced graphics, improved AI, and a hexagonal tile system that adds more depth to strategic gameplay.

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  • Windows
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  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 148,426 reviews
gameplay2,520 positive mentions
stability834 negative mentions
  • gameplay6,736 mentions

    The gameplay of Civilization V is widely praised for its depth, strategic complexity, and addictive "just one more turn" mechanic, making it a standout in the 4X genre. Players appreciate the streamlined mechanics that balance accessibility for newcomers with enough depth for veterans, while the expansions, particularly "Gods & Kings" and "Brave New World," significantly enhance the gameplay experience by introducing new systems like religion and trade routes. However, some critiques focus on the AI's unpredictability and the occasional repetitiveness of gameplay, especially in longer sessions. Overall, it remains a beloved title for its engaging and immersive gameplay.

    • “Easily the best iteration of civilization in the series since Civilization II, V put an excellent spin on the gameplay and made it far more compelling to play from start to finish.”
    • “The gameplay strikes the perfect balance between depth and fun, and the combat and strategy keep you hooked.”
    • “With its deep gameplay mechanics, expansive tech tree, and diplomatic options, it provides endless replayability and strategic depth.”
    • “The gameplay, although robust on paper, often feels repetitive and tedious.”
    • “The biggest problem I have with this game is how slow and boring the gameplay is.”
    • “The gameplay is an oversimplified, tedious grind with no sense of accomplishment or reward.”
  • graphics3,720 mentions

    The graphics of Civilization V are generally praised for their beauty and detail, with many players appreciating the vibrant landscapes and unique architectural styles of different civilizations. While some reviews note that the graphics may feel dated compared to newer titles, they still hold up well and are often considered superior to the more cartoonish style of Civilization VI. However, there are mentions of occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios. Overall, the game's visuals contribute significantly to its immersive experience, making it a standout in the strategy genre.

    • “From the moment you start, you’re drawn into a beautifully crafted world filled with vibrant visuals and diverse civilizations, each with its own unique traits and playstyles.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with beautiful landscapes and highly detailed units.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay immersive and guaranteed to make you keep uttering the phrase that's practically the series' trademark: 'just one more turn' until three in the morning.”
    • “Unpredictable frequent crashes, graphics glitches.”
    • “Graphics suck”
    • “Get very far in the game and you can expect graphics glitches that hide all of your farms.”
  • replayability2,906 mentions

    The replayability of "Civilization V" is widely praised, with many users highlighting its near-infinite potential due to randomly generated maps, diverse civilizations, and various victory conditions. The game's depth, combined with a robust modding community and expansion packs, ensures that each playthrough feels unique and engaging, making it a favorite for both solo and multiplayer experiences. Overall, players report countless hours of enjoyment, often exceeding 1,000 hours, underscoring its status as one of the most replayable strategy games available.

    • “With a wide variety of civilizations, each with unique units, abilities, and playstyles, 'Civilization V' offers immense replayability and strategic depth.”
    • “The replayability of this game is just something else.”
    • “The simplest way to explain how much replayability this game has is like this: you could literally spend hundreds of hours playing as a single civ, on a specific game type, with a specific ruleset, and still not get bored.”
    • “Its replay value is nearly endless, and each playthrough offers a unique and engaging experience.”
    • “The replay value is huge as each playthrough is unique and offers a new experience.”
  • music1,460 mentions

    The music in Sid Meier's Civilization V is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many players appreciating the unique themes assigned to each civilization that adapt to the game's context, such as peace or war. While some find the soundtrack beautiful and engaging, others note that it can become repetitive over long play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant aspect of the game's appeal, enhancing the historical and strategic experience.

    • “The soundtrack and atmospheric sound design perfectly complement the gameplay, immersing you in the rich tapestry of history as you guide your civilization from the stone age to the modern era.”
    • “The soundtrack is a soaring accompaniment to your conquests, with themes that adapt to the era and your civilization.”
    • “The music is beautiful, and the graphics are actually quite nice.”
    • “The music isn't varied enough and it gets really irritating after a short time.”
    • “The music is grating, and to boot, it kept crashing every hour or so.”
    • “Even for 2010s standards back then the music was bad.”
  • story976 mentions

    The story aspect of "Civilization V" is largely characterized by its absence of a traditional narrative; instead, players create their own unique stories through gameplay. Each match unfolds differently, allowing for emergent storytelling based on player decisions and interactions with AI civilizations. While some players express a desire for a more structured campaign or quest system, many appreciate the game's replayability and the personal narratives that arise from each playthrough.

    • “Amazing graphics, audio and storyline.”
    • “The great thing about this game is that by playing random maps every game feels unique; every game tells its own story.”
    • “Every game is an immersive story.”
    • “Campaign had a shit story and quite frankly the multiplayer wasn't much better.”
    • “There is no story/campaign, not really.”
    • “The campaign lacked any real story, and finished way too quickly.”
  • stability904 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and significant issues in multiplayer mode, making it often unplayable. Many users express frustration over the persistent bugs and the lack of effective updates or fixes from the developers, leading to a generally unstable experience. While some players enjoy the game despite these issues, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game's stability detracts significantly from its overall enjoyment.

    • “No glitches, no crashing.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and bug free.”
    • “All in all this is a very solid game, good gameplay, few to no glitches that I have encountered.”
    • “Despite all my hours in this game, I cannot recommend it to anyone because it's an unstable, buggy piece of nonfunctional garbage.”
    • “The level of frustration you may have for having a good start and then you couldn't finish the game due to these crashes, desyncs, and spontaneous glitches is paramount.”
    • “The multiplayer is an unplayable mess full of desyncs and freezes.”
  • humor444 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the ironic and absurd situations that arise, such as the infamous warmongering Gandhi and the ability to name cities and religions in amusing ways. Many reviews mention the hilarious interactions with AI and friends, leading to memorable and often chaotic gameplay experiences. Overall, the game is described as both entertaining and funny, making it a favorite for those looking to combine strategy with humor.

    • “The irony of it all had me laughing out loud.”
    • “Gandhi is still a nuclear warmonger, which is hilarious, and the game is still much more balanced since before the district fiasco of VI.”
    • “This game can create funny situations you will think back on for a long time.”
    • “If you want to do something really interesting, add quotes which appeal for social criticism rather than unfunny cry-babies clearly lacking any sense of humor.”
    • “Rule #5 (optional): create a review for Civ 5, using bland and unfunny humor, you're welcome, by the way.”
    • “I'm not funny enough for a one-liner review... every iteration of Civ is better.”
  • grinding402 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious, particularly in the late game where micromanagement and unit movement become time-consuming. While some enjoy the depth and complexity that comes with this grinding, others find it overwhelming and repetitive, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate strategic depth and are willing to invest significant time, but it may deter players who prefer a more streamlined experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “No tedious districts and no workers that vanish after building a few farms.”
    • “The only fun win condition is domination, and the game goes to every length to make it as tedious as possible.”
    • “This game becomes a grinding waste of time after more than an hour of playing.”
    • “The gameplay is an oversimplified, tedious grind with no sense of accomplishment or reward.”
  • optimization332 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including older machines. However, there are significant complaints about performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes and during late-game scenarios, where processing times can become excessively long. While some users appreciate the game's graphics and overall performance, others express frustration over crashes and the impact of recent updates on functionality.

    • “I'd say the game is overall really well optimized.”
    • “It's highly optimized, which means that even on older machines, the game can be enjoyed without a hitch.”
    • “The game is well optimized, fairly balanced and beautifully rendered.”
    • “Crashes, performance problems, and long loading times are just some of the technical deficiencies plaguing Civilization V.”
    • “The game is great but the multiplayer is horrendous; don't get me wrong, it's fun, but it is just so poorly optimized.”
    • “First things first: prepare to be frustrated by the incredibly poor mid and late game performance with end of round 'processing' times that are beyond excessive.”
  • monetization274 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the introduction of a new launcher that aggressively promotes Civilization VI through ads, which many players find intrusive and unnecessary. This update not only disrupts gameplay but also raises concerns about data privacy and the overall integrity of a game that players have already purchased. Overall, the monetization strategy is perceived as a blatant cash grab, undermining the value of the original game.

    • “Does this game use real money for in-game purchases?”
    • “All the same titles, all same mechanics, all the same games, only today with a 60 euro price, and microtransactions.”
    • “Civ V is a good game, but the base game lacks some depth, and I would rather play Civ IV BTS or Civ III CNC than play Civ V BNW. If you can get it for under 50 dollars, go for it, but it lacks multi-leader civs, no civics or religion from Civ IV, no scenarios without buying DLC. Most civs are microtransactions that do not come with the games.”
    • “After over 5 years of not updating the game, they straight-up broke it with a new launcher that's nothing but adware in disguise, shoving advertisements for Civ 6 down your throat every time you try to launch the game - and not even working properly most of the time, no less.”
    • “This is an obnoxious anti-consumer move, they went out of their way to make a product I've owned for years objectively worse to incorporate advertising into their launcher.”
    • “The new launcher not only throws a bunch of ads in your face, but it also breaks the game.”
  • emotional108 mentions

    Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from deep nostalgia and inspiration to moments of sadness and frustration. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, whether through its historical content, character connections, or personal experiences within the gameplay. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, with players often finding themselves laughing, crying, and forming bonds with both the game and its characters.

    • “I cried.”
    • “Never before has a video game made me feel actual emotions and form actual bonds with A.I.”
    • “This game made me feel life in a new way.”
  • atmosphere102 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, driven by a dynamic and atmospheric soundtrack that evolves with the gameplay and enhances the historical setting. Players appreciate the detailed world map and nuanced interactions between civilizations, which contribute to a rich and engaging experience. While some critiques mention pacing issues, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and replayable atmosphere that keeps players invested for hours.

    • “The immersive experience is one of the game's strongest suits, especially thanks to its atmospheric soundtrack, detailed world map, and the nuanced interactions between civilizations.”
    • “The soundtrack and atmospheric sound design perfectly complement the gameplay, immersing you in the rich tapestry of history as you guide your civilization from the Stone Age to the modern era.”
    • “The sound design complements the gameplay perfectly, with a sweeping orchestral soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and adds depth to each moment.”
    • “It lacks atmosphere; it is painfully slow and units randomly lack sight and cannot fire at their intended range.”
    • “Heroes of Might and Magic III is a good turn-based strategy game that has a better atmosphere than this game, but Civilization V probably makes up for it with its ensemble of game mechanics.”
    • “I've dropped so many nukes I think the atmosphere would have been destroyed.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its depth, but is undermined by poorly designed character aesthetics and problematic gameplay mechanics, such as the fog of war, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game has depth and character development.”
    • “The game has depth and character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Sid Meier's Civilization V

Play time

131hMedian play time
1040hAverage play time
40hMain story
400hCompletionist
20-558hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1,114 analyzed playthroughs

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