The WhatsNext verdict

Civilization IV is a landmark 4X for players who want dense strategic choices, emergent history, and the most dangerous one-more-turn loop in the genre. It rewards patience and curiosity, but demands a willingness to learn its systems and live with very long campaigns.

What it does best

The one-more-turn loop is almost impossible to resist
Strategy deep enough to reward serious long-term planning
A world that constantly creates its own stories
A soundtrack that makes world history feel grand

What might put you off

Campaigns can become exhausting marathons
The learning curve is steep and sometimes opaque

The setup

What you are walking into

Sid Meier and Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive game to new heights by adding new ways to play and win, new tools to manage and expand your civilization, all-new easy to use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options