Sid Meier's Civilization VI

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 135,843 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Sid Meier's Civilization VI Game Cover
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In Civilization VI, players build and expand their own empire throughout history, engaging in exploration, technology research, and diplomacy or combat with other civilizations and leaders. The game offers enhanced features, improved gameplay, and additional content including new civilizations, leaders, and scenarios. Players can also access bonus scenarios and civilizations, such as Nubia, Khmer, and Indonesia, at no extra cost.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 135,843 reviews
gameplay2,934 positive mentions
stability1,380 negative mentions
  • gameplay10,013 mentions

    The gameplay of *Civilization VI* has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its depth and complexity, particularly with the introduction of new mechanics like districts, loyalty, and environmental factors. While some appreciate the strategic planning required and the variety of civilizations, others criticize the game for being overly complicated, with a steep learning curve and a reliance on micro-management that can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the AI's performance and certain mechanics, such as the loyalty system and the world congress, have been points of contention, leading to a perception that the game can feel unbalanced or frustrating at times. Overall, *Civ VI* offers a rich and engaging gameplay experience, especially with expansions, but may not appeal to everyone due to its complexity and pacing.

    • “I love the gameplay and changes.”
    • “The gameplay is deep, the graphics are gorgeous, and the replay value is endless.”
    • “The new mechanics, such as districts, government policies, and the unstacking of cities, breathe fresh life into the formula.”
    • “It's a badly coded game that lacks a lot of gameplay without mods.”
    • “Huge fan of Civilization 5 and was thoroughly disappointed with this game's mechanics changes, bad AI, and how confusing the menus are.”
    • “The gameplay is very slow and not very engaging; don't buy unless you have a lot of free time to complete a single campaign.”
  • graphics7,491 mentions

    The graphics of Civilization VI have sparked a polarized response among players, with many appreciating the vibrant, cartoonish art style while others lament the departure from the more realistic aesthetics of its predecessor, Civilization V. While some players find the new visuals charming and easier to read, others criticize them as overly simplistic and juvenile, detracting from the game's serious themes. Overall, the graphics are generally considered a significant upgrade in terms of detail and polish, but opinions vary widely on their artistic direction.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully designed leaders and units that bring the world to life.”
    • “The vibrant art style and detailed animations bring the game world to life, from the bustling cities to the lush landscapes to the majestic wonders of the world.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and higher resolution than previous games, but when you build on every tile, you can get kinda confused trying to identify what a tile is.”
    • “I can't get over the cartoonish graphics; it feels like a children's game.”
    • “The graphics are a major step backward, looking more like a mobile game than a serious strategy title.”
    • “The art style is childish and cartoonish, which detracts from the overall experience of managing a civilization.”
  • music1,946 mentions

    The music in Civilization VI has received widespread acclaim for its high quality and immersive nature, with many praising the dynamic soundtrack that evolves as players progress through different eras. Composed by Geoff Knorr and featuring themes that reflect the cultural backgrounds of various civilizations, the music enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, some players have noted that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions, and a few expressed a preference for the more diverse soundtracks of previous installments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is a highlight, featuring dynamic music that evolves as your civilization progresses through different eras.”
    • “The music beautifully complements the game, with themes that evoke a sense of history and grandeur as you progress through the ages.”
    • “The music is fantastic, with each civilization having its own unique soundtrack that evolves through the eras.”
    • “The music drags repetitively.”
    • “The music is garbage and I can't find any way to get rid of it besides muting my computer.”
    • “The soundtrack is inferior to Civ V and very repetitive.”
  • stability1,455 mentions

    The stability of Civilization VI has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and freezes that hinder gameplay. While some users have noted improvements over time, particularly in single-player modes, the multiplayer experience remains particularly unstable, often resulting in desynchronization and connection issues. Overall, despite its engaging gameplay, the game is frequently described as a "buggy mess," leading to frustration and disappointment for many players.

    • “The game is basically bug free, the launcher is fine and the developer listens to the community well and understands what the game needs next.”
    • “The game runs great, looks great, plays great.”
    • “Excellent game with absolutely no glitches.”
    • “Very buggy, can't even play multiplayer, what a trash fire.”
    • “The game either crashes when starting a match or it freezes because the game uses all of the RAM.”
    • “The game has become unplayable, screen flashes black between turns and then freezes.”
  • replayability1,428 mentions

    Civilization VI is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players noting that the diverse civilizations, unique leaders, and procedurally generated maps ensure that no two games are alike. Many reviewers report spending hundreds, if not thousands, of hours in the game, highlighting its depth and strategic complexity as key factors that keep them engaged. The addition of expansions and a robust modding community further enhances the game's replay value, making it a standout title in the strategy genre.

    • “The variety of leaders and playstyles keeps it endlessly replayable, and every game feels like a unique challenge.”
    • “With its expansions, Civilization VI has cemented itself as one of the most replayable and innovative entries in the series, proving that the franchise still has new ground to explore.”
    • “The game's replayability is astounding, as no two games are ever the same.”
    • “The game lacks depth and replayability...”
    • “I have over 2,000 hours on this game - ultimate replayability and so many different ways to challenge yourself.”
    • “The game's AI opponents are challenging but fair, and the multiplayer mode allows for endless replayability.”
  • story1,100 mentions

    The reviews for the "story" aspect of the game reveal a general consensus that there is little to no traditional narrative structure. Players often feel that the game lacks a cohesive storyline, with many describing it as a sandbox experience where the story is player-driven rather than scripted. The overwhelming presence of missionaries and the mechanics surrounding religious victory contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience, overshadowing any potential narrative depth. Overall, while players can create their own stories through gameplay, the absence of a structured campaign or engaging plot leaves many feeling disappointed.

    • “In this remarkable creation, each city you build tells a story, expanding physically across the map with a level of detail that invites you to craft your own vision of an empire.”
    • “Every turn feels like a canvas on which you paint the story of your people, your culture, and your legacy.”
    • “It's not just a game; it's a masterpiece of human storytelling and connection.”
    • “The storyline is nearly non-existent.”
    • “There's no real 'story mode' or 'campaign'.”
    • “The spawning of missionaries by the AI civilizations is absurdly excessive - so much so that I resorted to modifying the cost of missionaries in one of the game files just to make the game playable.”
  • grinding861 mentions

    The grinding aspect of Civilization VI has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing the late game as tedious and overly complex due to excessive micromanagement of cities and units. Players often feel that the game becomes a monotonous slog, requiring significant time investment to achieve victory conditions, which can lead to frustration and boredom. While some appreciate the depth and strategy involved, the consensus is that the game demands a level of grinding that can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially in longer play sessions.

    • “Many things are streamlined so it's not tedious.”
    • “It is not tedious enough for me but if you are looking for depth and combinations this game has it.”
    • “Fun and not tedious.”
    • “Especially in the late game when you have so many units and cities to micromanage at almost every turn, it becomes super tedious.”
    • “Extremely tedious; almost all of my 10 hours as of this review were spent on one match that lasted 250 turns, and the further into the game you are, the longer the turns take.”
    • “The late game gets a bit tedious just purely based on the number of things you have to do each turn; I found myself falling asleep setting production for all my many cities.”
  • optimization630 mentions

    The optimization of Civilization VI has received mixed reviews from players. While some commend its performance improvements over previous iterations, particularly in multiplayer, many others report significant issues, especially during late-game scenarios or on larger maps, leading to slowdowns and crashes. The game's reliance on the 2K launcher has also been criticized for negatively impacting performance, with users expressing frustration over persistent bugs and the need for further optimization to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The policy card system is superior to the old trees as it's flexible and customizable; districts add a new layer of strategy and optimization and it's fun to plan for high yields.”
    • “Somehow the developers of this game have optimized the graphics, and provided enough options to select UI and graphical settings, that I don't see the massive slowdowns or bad textures that I expected.”
    • “The new districts system for cities is a breath of fresh air in land development, combined with the incremental improvements to gameplay, AI, etc. as well as being properly optimized makes for a solid new Civ experience.”
    • “Bugs and performance issues have improved with patches, but some players still report problems, especially when running on older machines.”
    • “Performance issues, especially in the later stages of the game or on larger maps, can be frustrating.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized and sometimes randomly crashes.”
  • humor466 mentions

    The humor in Civilization VI is widely praised for its quirky and often absurd elements, including the hilariously inept AI, comical interactions between leaders, and humorous quotes delivered by Sean Bean. Players enjoy the game's ability to create funny scenarios, such as Gandhi's notorious nuclear antics and the absurdity of historical leaders engaging in ridiculous diplomacy. While some critiques mention that the humor can feel forced or repetitive, the overall consensus is that the game offers a lighthearted and entertaining experience, especially when played with friends.

    • “The humor in this game is phenomenal.”
    • “In conclusion, if you have any love for strategy games or just enjoy a good old-fashioned digital domination with a sprinkle of quirky humor, I wholeheartedly recommend Civilization VI.”
    • “It's like playing chess with an octopus on roller skates – hilariously challenging!”
    • “It had a rocky start -- too exploitable, too unbalanced, and horridly cynical and unfunny quotes when you unlocked techs.”
    • “This game is not funny.”
    • “Diplomacy is a joke, and an unfunny, broken joke at that.”
  • monetization313 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with excessive DLC costs and intrusive advertisements that detract from the gaming experience. Many users express frustration over the introduction of ads in a game they paid for, alongside a launcher that primarily serves to promote additional content and collect user data. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing discontent with the game's monetization practices, which are seen as exploitative and detrimental to the franchise's legacy.

    • “Fun game that does not require extra in-game purchases to enjoy.”
    • “Great strategy game, a little expensive if you buy all the DLC, but a better business model than microtransactions.”
    • “This game is constantly being expanded and there are no in-game purchases that will break you.”
    • “The problem is with the DLC cash grab culture.”
    • “This game was just a rushed cash grab by the developers.”
    • “The whole DLC list is a huge cash grab with little to no substance.”
  • emotional104 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from joy and nostalgia to frustration and heartbreak. Players often describe it as a deeply engaging experience that fosters connections with both the game world and other players, while also highlighting moments of emotional manipulation and disappointment due to AI behavior. Overall, the game is seen as a heartfelt journey through civilization-building, marked by both uplifting and distressing moments.

    • “Civ IV hugged me, tucked me into bed, read me all of my favorite stories, woke me up with a warm coffee and kissed me on the cheek, handed me a book, encouraged me to learn about Latin American independence and a myriad of other topics, filled my ears with wonderful music, made me pump my fist in the air as I took the last capital, gaze lovingly into the cosmos as our rockets flew off into the great expanse, handed me the most comfortable, well-loved jeans I could ever own, helped me negotiate a way to justify the amount of time I spend playing, gave me emotional and spiritual counsel after arguments, paved a path for me to bond with my younger sibling, some of my closest friends (alongside some new ones).”
    • “As you build your civilization from the ground up, you embark on an emotional rollercoaster of triumphs and tribulations.”
    • “In the end, 'Civilization IV' isn't just a game; it's a testament to the human spirit, an emotional odyssey that takes you through the rise and fall of civilizations.”
  • atmosphere89 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its colorful art style, engaging soundtrack, and immersive sound design, which together create a captivating and enjoyable experience. While many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and the calming ambiance, some criticize the cartoonish elements and a perceived loss of the historical gravity found in previous titles. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, enhancing both gameplay and player engagement.

    • “The game’s music and sound design complement the visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the strategic depth.”
    • “The soundtrack, composed by Geoff Knorr, offers an immersive musical journey, seamlessly transitioning between peaceful times and moments of intense conflict, further enhancing the atmosphere and immersion.”
    • “The warm, pleasant colors mixed with the beautiful music create a gorgeous atmosphere and one I fall victim to when I have to give up my stretches of farmland for the bustle of neighborhoods.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game has gone entirely to shit, and whatever sense of historical gravity earlier civilization games might have held on to is clearly no longer there.”
    • “Now it really breaks the game's atmosphere for me and makes me bounce off it whenever I try to play.”
    • “Civ games are as much about the atmosphere and experience as they are about gameplay, and for me at least, Civ VI falls short in providing an experience I look forward to immersing myself in.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the charming and culturally expressive character designs and animations, while others criticize them as overly exaggerated or kitschy. The overall presentation, including audio and graphics, is noted as strong, but opinions vary on the appropriateness and execution of the character designs, with some feeling they lean towards a cartoonish or derivative style.

    • “Character designs and their animations are amazing, you can even see the cultural body language.”
    • “Like the strategy and ease of character development.”
    • “And let's not forget an excellent presentation, including wonderful music, heartfelt narration, and utterly charming graphics and character design.”
    • “The character design is fine for kids' movies like How to Train Your Dragon - used here it's kitsch and nasty.”
    • “Character designs are so over-exaggerated it's annoying.”
    • “The character designs range from 'tolerable' to 'Disney ripoff'.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Buy Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Play time

78hMedian play time
382hAverage play time
15-600hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 888 analyzed playthroughs

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