Civilization VI

[ʋσʀтεx™♛]

If Civ V was the most streamlined the series had ever been, Civ VI is the most celebratory - a 25th anniversary iteration that sheds the sterility of previous entries in favour of a stirring soundtrack and brave new (cartoonish) look. It finds Firaxis remembering that the power of a 4X game lies as much in its atmosphere as its systems.

It’s testament to the attentiveness of Sid Meier and his studio, however, that they haven’t neglected those systems either. Civilization VI has exhumed several of the best additions from its predecessor’s Community Balance Patch, while pushing onwards and upwards with some offbeat new ideas - builders that expire after three turns, for instance, and cities that spread across several tiles.

Isn’t that what Civ is all about? Pushing onwards and upwards, reaching for the stars? Firaxis will surely continue to do just that, building on these strong foundations with balance patches and expansions. And players will do the same, conceiving game-changing Civ 6 mods. But even the game that exists now is a classic Civ. It’s not only a wonderfully colourful introductory experience, but also an intriguing twist on some of the series’ most deeply rooted mechanics that’ll keep veterans coming back for one more turn.