Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 68

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Civilization 6 is as addictive as ever, cementing the 4X strategy formula while adding richness and depth to the formula.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 68

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 68

Civilization 6 is as addictive as ever, cementing the 4X strategy formula while adding richness and depth to the formula.

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Critic Reviews for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 60/100

Gold TIER

38% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100

Stace Harman (Eurogamer)

Recommended

“Civ 6 harnesses the series’ great strengths and adds wonderful new features of its own in an accessible and compelling entry.”

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T.J. Hafer (PC Gamer)

93/100

“Sight, sound, and systems harmonize to make Civilization 6 the liveliest, most engrossing, most rewarding, most challenging 4X in any corner of the earth.”

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GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)

9/10

“An excellent sequel, that manages to evolve the series in terms of both accessibility and complexity, and maintain its place as one of the best strategy games of all time.”

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**Read all 68 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (68 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
AR12Gaming	Ray	9 / 10	11-11-2016	Overall, Civilization VI is a masterpiece, providing a depth of play and choices never seen, and doing it in such a graceful manner.	Read review
Areajugones	Luis H. Rodríguez	10 / 10	10-28-2016	Civilization VI has reached the perfection inside the turn based strategy genre. Complex, addictive and with a very strong personality, Firaxis wants us to stay hundreds of hours in front of the PC.	Read review
Cerealkillerz	Gabriel Bogdan	9 / 10	10-29-2016	Civilization 6 präsentiert sich nach dem doch etwas schwächeren Beyond Earth wieder als solider Ableger der Serie und überzeugt mit einigen netten Gameplay Neuerungen und der gewohnten „Just one more turn“ Sucht. Die furchtbare KI bleibt die größte und bis auf ein paar Kleinigkeiten, auch einzige Schwäche von Civilization 6. Sowohl Neueinsteiger als auch Veteranen werden hier auf jeden Fall ihren Spaß haben.	Read review
CGMagazine	Preston Dozsa	9.5 / 10	11-21-2019	Firaxis continues its hot streak with Civilization VI, a visually resplendent strategy game that makes every turn feel important and every approach viable.	Read review
Cheat Code Central	Sean Engemann	4.7 / 5 stars	10-24-2016	Civilization games have oft posed this question to gamers of their empire choice: “Will you stand the test of time?” As a series celebrating its twenty-fifth year with a new entry easily toppling its predecessors, it has answered its own question with a firm and absolute, “Yes!”	Read review
COGconnected	Lydia Tang	92 / 100	10-30-2016	Civilization VI brings the franchise to an unbelievable level of polish and streamlined complexity.	Read review
Critical Hit	Zoe Hawkins	9 / 10	10-26-2016	With reimagined cities, diplomacy and research progression, Civilization feels familiar enough for veterans while making a lot more sense for newcomers. By far the best Civilization experience we’ve seen in years, only slightly tarnished by slow load times and art that occasionally feels out of place.	Read review
Cubed3	Chris Leebody	9 / 10	11-04-2016	The thing about Civilization VI is that there is so much content, that a traditional review struggles to do it justice. The number of units on show, the diversity in buildings, the research tree, the choice over governmental direction and the bonus this gives; it is honestly a title that is best experienced first hand and delved into in the deepest possible way. It is definitely the most fulfilling and enjoyable Civilization to date, and with Firaxis tendency to add expansions and updates to their products, it can only get better from this point onward. Some irritating issues do exist, such as religion and some slight AI deficiencies, but these are minor complaints in a title that is so easy to get addicted to that it is scary. The strategy crown remains with Sid Meier, and it is hard to see any challengers conquering his empire in the near future.	Read review
Daily Star	Lloyd Coombes	5 / 5 stars	11-22-2018	Shrinking such a dense game onto a smaller system and making it work with game-pad controls is no mean feat, and Aspyr’s port of Civilization VI feels like a perfect introduction to the series while also offering a new way to play for experienced fans.	Read review
Destructoid	Peter Glagowski	8.5 / 10	10-25-2016	The old Civ mantra of “one more turn” is stronger than ever. The additions make for a much deeper strategy game and the inclusion of most of the features from previous entries makes for a remarkably well-rounded launch. It will be interesting to see where Civ VI goes, but I have a feeling there won’t be nearly as dramatic a change as Civ V saw.	Read review
Digital Trends	Will Fulton	4.5 / 5 stars	10-22-2016	Civilization VI is a masterpiece. It’s the best entry yet in the esteemed 25-year-old PC strategy series.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Nick H.	4 / 5 stars	11-02-2016	At its worst, Civilization VI is a game with a handful of bugs and a somewhat lacking AI that is wrapped up in a somewhat cartoon-like package. At its best however, Civilization VI is an engrossing 4X strategy game that has more depth and features than ever before.	Read review
Easy Allies	Ben Moore	4.5 / 5 stars	11-11-2016	Video Review	Read review
Eurogamer	Stace Harman	Recommended	10-25-2016	Civ 6 harnesses the series’ great strengths and adds wonderful new features of its own in an accessible and compelling entry.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Giovanni Calgaro	9.5 / 10	11-21-2019	Even though he didn't create the 4X genre, Sid Meier and the Civilization series unquestionably nurtured and rose it to prominence for the last 25 years. The latest chapter succeeds, again, in bringing new life to the genre and raising the competition bar to new heights.	Read review
Expansive	Ray Willmott	9 / 10	11-12-2016	Civilization 6 is an incredible feat for Firaxis. Easily staking a claim for Game of the Year, this might just be the finest Civ yet	Read review
Fextralife	Tarshana	9.5 / 10	10-29-2016	Great start, complex strategies, new Leaders to discover, detailed diplomacy, beautiful graphics and a replayability factor that could never be fit into a score. Quality gaming has never felt better!	Read review
Game Debate	Stuart Thomas	9 / 10	11-05-2016	Civ is a game that almost defies a straightforward 1-10 scoring system. It’s a way of life. A serious undertaking which can’t be quantified with a simple number. Suffice to say, this is a feature-rich and immersive iteration where attention to detail in design is apparent from the first turn and systems you didn’t even realise could be significantly improved have been infused with a spark of genius. True, the AI is a woeful mess and it’s lacking a few tooltips but there is none of the hollowness that Civ V had on release. Could this be a worthy successor to the majesty and awe of Civilization IV? Well, ask me again when I top the 300 hour mark. But at the moment, all signs point very clearly to yes.	Read review
Game Informer	Ben Reeves	9.5 / 10	10-25-2016	Civilization remains as addictive as ever. As soon as you start building your empire, say goodbye to your weekend	Read review
Game Revolution	Jonathan Leack	4.5 / 5 stars	10-26-2016	This is a captivating game, one that consumes your time and gives back more than you put in. It’ll test your ability to make sound decisions, and anticipate the future. While diplomacy and numbers tuning will be required to combat some of the frustration that the game brings, this is yet another outstanding 4X game from Firaxis Games that will undoubtedly become one of the most popular PC titles for the years to come.	Read review
GameCrate	Nicholas Scibetta	9 / 10	10-20-2016	Bold new ideas change up a classic formula, and the result just may be the strongest core Civilization game we’ve ever gotten.	Read review
Gamefa	Amirmehdi Namjoo	9.7 / 10	11-01-2016	Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is one of the best turn-based strategy games in recent years. Its new district system is very good. You really need a good strategy to improve in game and mistakes are not easily forgiven especially in high difficulty levels. It’s AI is better in some manners but it yet has problems in diplomacy. However, if you’re a fan of turn-based games, you must buy Civilization VI.	Read review
GameGrin	Tyler Spectre	9.5 / 10	11-05-2016	Civilization VI is most definitely the best base-game installment of the franchise yet. There are so many gameplay mechanics included here that it feels like it’s already had a large expansion. I can’t wait to see what Firaxis could possibly add to improve on an already spectacular and complete game. But as much as I hate to say it, with so much to learn this is one of the least accessible games in the series for newcomers. Still, with beautiful visuals,step-up in AI competence, and so much to do, for returning players this is the best Civilization game in history.	Read review
GameMAG	Vadimeys	9 / 10	12-10-2019	Despite a few flaws, Sid Meier's Civilization VI is a competent development of ideas of the cult series. Sid Meier's team made the right emphasis on the diversity of opportunities that allowed us to avoid one-sidedness of Beyond Earth. Each element of gameplay is organically intertwined with others, increasing the depth and leaving a pleasant aftertaste. As a result, we've got the best PC game of 2016.	Read review
GamePro	Martin Deppe	85 / 100	11-26-2019	Epic journey through time with very well-meshed elements	Read review
GameSpot	Scott Butterworth	9 / 10	10-24-2016	The series that cemented the 4X strategy formula continues to stand the test of time with a stellar entry that adds richness and depth in expected places.	Read review
GameZone	Atle Williatham	10 / 10	12-02-2016	Civilization VI is the best strategy game available on the market and a must-buy for everyone who enjoys a good strategy game. It improves and revitalizes the franchise on so many levels. This might be one of the strongest Game of the Year contenders	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Tom Bitterman	9 / 10	12-06-2016	Civilization remains the preeminent turn-based strategy game. This iteration has a lot of good ideas and a few flaws in execution. The flaws will be fixed, the good ideas will stay and deepen over time.	Read review
GamingTrend	Amy Kay Purcell	85 / 100	11-06-2016	Civilization VI is the most strategic installment of the Civilization series to date. With upgrades to everything from city planning and management to an entirely revamped social policy system, the are lots of new and improved features to dive into. Diverse maps, unique leader abilities and plenty of interesting rival empires to befriend and fight, Civ VI has a lot to explore and great replay value.	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	Simon Jones	7.5 / 10	04-07-2018	Civilization VI is a worthwhile addition to the series. It takes the familiar Civilization formula and builds on it to give more power to its players. Despite some interface issues, its a great game that you will lose hours and hours in.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9 / 10	10-27-2016	If you’re looking for the best turn-based strategy on the market, it’ll be tough to find something as exceptional as this.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Sean Hannley	4.5 / 5 stars	10-26-2016	Civilization VI takes all of the elements from the Civilization franchise, improves on them and produces one of the most unique games in the series.	Read review
IGN	Dan Stapleton	9.4 / 10	10-26-2016	Civilization VI will go down in history as the most fully-featured launch version in the series. Many of those are smartly revamped versions of Civ classics, buy it finds its own identity with great new ideas like spread-out cities, customizeable governments, research boosts, and leader agendas. And even though the AI has some improving to do, it can put up enough of a fight to make world domination a challenge.	Read review
IGN Spain	Carlos G. Gurpegui	8.9 / 10	10-25-2016	The king of the 4X games is back and came with a golden crown. Firaxis has made a whole new Civ with a taste both of the past and the present. Perfect for newcomers and a challenge for the experienced ones.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Joshua Wright	3.5 / 5 stars	10-25-2016	There have been a few solid play improvements on Civ 5, but not enough to justify its current price tag.	Read review
Kill Screen	Sam Zucchi	75 / 100	11-03-2016	Civilization VI carries forward almost all of the mechanics from V: spies, trading routes, religion, ideologies, the hexagonal map, and so on. As a result, the game is just as strong as its previous incarnation, while nevertheless finding ways to expand upon this experience.	Read review
Kinglink Reviews	Klinglink	3 / 5 stars	09-23-2018	While a flawed entry, it does have some bright moments. Districts are a great addition and the government system has been overhauled. However, there’s a lot missing and it’s a bit slow.	Read review
Kotaku	Luke Plunkett	Recommended	10-26-2016	What we’ve got here is a strategy game that, while preserving most of the series’ longtime fundamentals, has also found new and surprising ways—through an investment in player choice and more hands-on time with your people—to keep things interesting.	Read review
LevelUp	Al Zamora	9.8 / 10	10-24-2016	Improving on it’s predecessors, Civilization VI stands on the shoulders of giants to reach even beyond. With more freedom, personalization, complexity and meaningful choices than ever, the game is every inch as addicting as ever, even to the veteran, who will toil with the improved difficulty, new victory conditions and mechanics. A masterpiece.	Read review
M3	Billy Ekblom	8 / 10	10-26-2016	Civilization is still one of the most addicted series in gaming, and the new installment offers some really interesting addition. The sometimes stupid AI is a bit of a letdown, though.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	Unknown	9 / 10	10-26-2016	An excellent sequel, that manages to evolve the series in terms of both accessibility and complexity, and maintain its place as one of the best strategy games of all time.	Read review
New Game Network	Alex Varankou	75 / 100	11-06-2016	Civilization VI offers a variety of changes that significantly alter the way this long-running strategy franchise plays, but some notable issues	Read review
Niche Gamer	Brandon Orselli	9 / 10	11-27-2016	I’ve already logged dozens and dozens of hours into the game, and I can already see myself logging in a hundred more, easily. Civilization VI is worthy of the series’ legacy, and further reestablishes the age-old “one more turn” joke.	Read review
Nintendo Wire	Ben Fruzzetti	8.5 / 10	11-23-2018	If I had to bring just one Switch game to a deserted island, it would without a doubt be this one. And I know that I will continue to love this entry, this game, and this franchise for many ages to come.	Read review
NZGamer	Luke Batt	8.9 / 10	10-31-2016	Approachable yet deep, this is one of the best in the franchise to date.	Read review
Paste Magazine	Patrick Lindsey	8.5 / 10	10-31-2016	For now, it’s safe to say that Civilization VI represents a golden age for the series.	Read review
PC Gamer	T.J. Hafer	93 / 100	10-20-2016	Sight, sound, and systems harmonize to make Civilization 6 the liveliest, most engrossing, most rewarding, most challenging 4X in any corner of the earth.	Read review
PCGamesN	Robert Zak	9 / 10	10-18-2016	It’ll take a few balance patches and expansions before it achieves absolute perfection, but the list of wholesale changes Civ VI brings to the storied formula makes for an instantly sumptuous strategy treat.	Read review
PCWorld	Hayden Dingman	4 / 5 stars	10-25-2016	Civilization VI has room to improve (particularly the AI), but this is the most complete a baseline Civ game has felt in ages and a few smart tweaks on the formula distinguish it from its predecessor.	Read review
Polygon	Colin Campbell	8.5 / 10	10-25-2016	Civ 6 is smarter and more varied, but doesn’t show much progress	Read review
Post Arcade (National Post)	Chad Sapieha	9.5 / 10	10-25-2016	Firaxis’ sixth simulation of our world might be the best 4X strategy game yet made	Read review
PowerUp!	Ryan Rivetz	8 / 10	11-07-2016	The strategy genre keeps making leaps and bounds, while maintaining its roots and core base. Civilization VI is no exception.	Read review
pressakey.com	Philipp Weinbrecht	Recommended	11-01-2016	The Civilization-series has always been a game near to perfection within its own universe and over the past years, every new game made just some slight but useful changes to please the fans and give every round a new, exciting twist. So, it’s not a big surprise, that almost nothing changed this year	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Alec Meer	Recommended	10-25-2016	With Civ 6, I really do feel like I’m playing Civ right out of the gates – it’s remarkable how much it reminds me of the first ever game in the series. There’s a certain balance and pull of development vs competition that’s really present and correct, and now it’s accompanied by this delightful, colourful, busy appearance it feels surprisingly fresh, once one can get past its failure to explain stuff like Amenities.	Read review
Rocket Chainsaw	Tim Norman	5 / 5 stars	11-20-2016	The me from 1992 would have been blown away by Civilization VI. The amazing graphics and sound, and how cool the cities and farms and units all looked would have been jaw-dropping.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	James Gopperton	9.5 / 10	10-24-2016	Whether you’re a veteran of the genre or have never played a 4X game in your life, this game will give you a truly unique, fun and exciting experience that you won’t want to put down. Even if you’re not sure if you’d enjoy a 4X game, let me be the missionary to convert you to the amazing world of Sid Meier’s: Civilization VI.	Read review
Stevivor	Andrew Harrison	8.5 / 10	10-28-2016	In our preview, we mentioned we weren’t sure if Civlization VI feels like a new game, or merely DLC for Civlization V. After many hours with the game, it’s safe to say that it’s a separate entity, different yet the same. It’s one that franchise fans will enjoy, most definitely.	Read review
Telegraph	Sam White	5 / 5 stars	10-21-2016	A high point for the iconic strategy series	Read review
The Digital Fix	Edd Harwood	9 / 10	11-15-2016	Perhaps the most polished and enjoyable release of any in the series, only let down by a baffling AI and some hopefully resolvable niggling issues.	Read review
The Escapist	Joshua Vanderwall	4.5 / 5 stars	10-26-2016	If Civ VI doesn’t count as a Great Work, I don’t know what should. I’d display it in my Hermitage.	Read review
The Game Fanatics	Cameron Irby	7.5 / 10	11-10-2016	If you enjoyed Civilization V, then VI is right up your alley. If anything I’ve mentioned puts you off, then wait for some of the expansions to beef up the game.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dave Irwin	10 / 10	10-21-2016	Civilization VI is my new favourite addiction that I honestly can’t really fault. Each of the gameplay changes provides a fresh challenge, but they were well worth undertaking once they clicked. It’s packed full of the stuff that made the previous games great, but also has a crisp style that makes things clear enough when the game gets extremely busy. As such, the vanilla version of Civilization VI is so good, expansions aren’t really necessary to improve upon it. Having said that, I’m excited for what’s next.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	5 / 5 stars	10-25-2016	The features we touched on above are just some of the game-changing and quality of life improvements that Civilization VI has brought to the table. We could go on and on with praise, but really all you need to know is this: Civilization VI is still the supreme deity of historical turn-based strategy games.	Read review
USgamer	Mike Williams	4.5 / 5 stars	10-25-2016	Civilization VI is a worthy sequel for the franchise. Firaxis has crafted the best vanilla version in the franchise’s history, with a host of leaders, a great soundtrack, some keen art direction, and new features like the city expansion. There’s not much missing this time around and I look forward to seeing what Firaxis adds to an already amazing game.	Read review
Wccftech	Chris Wray	9.5 / 10	11-12-2016	Civilization VI is the pinnacle of the series. It’s featured huge, sweeping changes, and nothing was left out. Everything has found a purpose, they all work together in tandem but also have a reason to stand alone. Only slight AI issues can be found here, but nothing every other 4X or Grand Strategy game hasn’t encountered on a worse level. Civilization VI is, frankly, the best 4X strategy game in the world.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.

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