Sid Meier's Civilization IV

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1176 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 926 out of 1176
  2. Mixed: 148 out of 1176
  3. Negative: 102 out of 1176
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  1. Barlog.
    Jun 27, 2007
    10
    Perfect Game. I felt like an accountant in Civ 3 and II. The first one made me feel like the real ruler and warlord. In Civ4 i feel a ruler again. Thank you Sid for finally making a good sequel for Civ 1.
  2. M.A.
    Jul 2, 2007
    9
    Once this one arrived, i knew my private life will have to go on hold for quite some time.
  3. JonathanM.
    Sep 30, 2007
    9
    I think this may be one of those games where fans of the previous titles in the series will either love this one or hate it, with few exceptions. I, for one, played Civ 2 Gold for days and weeks on end. I adored that game, yet I barely touched Civ 3. After being pushed into playing the 4th, I rediscovered my love of the Civ series, for the most part. One thing all fans of Civ 3 who read I think this may be one of those games where fans of the previous titles in the series will either love this one or hate it, with few exceptions. I, for one, played Civ 2 Gold for days and weeks on end. I adored that game, yet I barely touched Civ 3. After being pushed into playing the 4th, I rediscovered my love of the Civ series, for the most part. One thing all fans of Civ 3 who read this must be aware of is that this is **much** different from Civ 3. Go to www.civfanatics.com (biggest Civ fan site) and look for articles comparing the two, especially the one that specifically addresses Civ 3 players who are having a miserable time with the game. The gist of the article is this: **This is not Civ 3, and if you play it like it's Civ 3 YOU WILL LOSE**. Most agree, after getting over that, that Civ 4 is the far superior game. I won't go into all of the details; you can look those up for yourself. There IS an issue with Civ 4's formula for barbarian activity, however, that should also be made known in these reviews so that no one will be disappointed. **The bigger your map is and the more civs you add, the worse the barbarian problems will be.** Don't start off on a huge map with lots of civs. Start small and learn what's different in Civ 4 first. Ok, have I moved past all of the necessary disclaimers yet? I forget. I hope so. Civ 4 is a deep, interesting, and fairly balanced strategy game. We've come along way since the 2nd and certainly since the 1st. Civ specific units are in from the last one, as well as special buildings. The biggest difference on the front end, though, are the leaders. Yeah, they're historical, but, more importantly, their various abilities (more added in the two expansions) become specialized tools for however the player would like to play the game. Strategies have never been more diverse in the series. Hannibal sure as heck ain't gonna play like Gandhi. These strategies make use of everything: old and new concepts. To keep this from becoming much longer than it already is, I'll just say that everything is much improved and evolved over the previous iterations, and readers would be wise to give a good Civ strategy site a look to get the hang of the finer points of the game and its various strategies. Hmmm, well, then why did I give it only a 9? Civ 4 lacks the ocean of mods and scenarios that the previous versions, especially the 2D versions, had. That's a no brainer, of course. Not as many people have or would like to take the time to develop the skills necessary to do that in a 3D game like Civ 4. It's sad, but it was inevitable, too. Still, Civ 4 is a Civ title in all the glory a fan would expect. Great game.… Expand
  4. SaschaP.
    Nov 1, 2005
    8
    It's no Alpha Centauri, but better than Civ 3 at any rate. I would greatly prefer a classical iso perspective, but every game has to be 3D nowadays, whether it makes sense or not.
  5. BoydS.
    Nov 17, 2005
    10
    One of the best games i have ever played!
  6. SP
    Nov 17, 2005
    6
    Vastly over rated, slow, boring, and half the time nothing to do but click end turn. I can't be the only one out there who thinks this surely?
  7. JamaalJ.
    Nov 2, 2005
    10
    This is a huge step forward. Adding new gameplay, cutting out the boring parts, making the game accessible to newbs while streamlining everything is perfect. The problem is that you have old grumpy people who want civ1. if that's what you want, go play it. kudos for taking some risks.
  8. RyanP.
    Nov 23, 2005
    10
    Give the game time.. a lot has changed since civ3. Contrary to what some of the other reviewers have said there IS city-micromanagement. After i played my first game i thought it was garbage.. after another one i can barely put the game down. Also artillery can attack conventionally, but they don't have the imbalanced no-retaliation attack they did in civ3.
  9. RichardL.
    Nov 29, 2005
    7
    Probably overrated, but still the only game out there which keeps you playing the same 'map' for hours., in a good way. Unfortunately the game crashes pretty often even with a good AMD system w/ 1gb RAM. I would have preferred more depth in the gameplay - the only way you can really affect your world is still through borders, miltary and city upgrades. I'm disappointed they Probably overrated, but still the only game out there which keeps you playing the same 'map' for hours., in a good way. Unfortunately the game crashes pretty often even with a good AMD system w/ 1gb RAM. I would have preferred more depth in the gameplay - the only way you can really affect your world is still through borders, miltary and city upgrades. I'm disappointed they removed many technologies and units, as a result the standard game is quite short even on 'epic'. For the non-civ fans, wait until the SDK is released when new, free mods (such as one based on SMACentauri) start being developed. Still, all this is unfortunately to be expected from a game offered via retail channels by a commercial developer.… Expand
  10. UnzarJ.
    Nov 4, 2005
    6
    Lets you control cities without any immersive feel of actually controlling cities. The most addictive cartoon spreadsheet invented. At the risk of overusing the word "addictive", it's addictive, but burnout factor will come quick.
  11. EarlG.
    Nov 5, 2005
    8
    Ok, did some extensive "testing". The game is really impro?ved and immersive - in general. But... - As already said, the eras pass too fast and your units get obsolete before you can use them. - Religions need to be improved by patches. Christianity and Islam are almost never adopted as state religions. There is no incentive for the AI and the player to do so. - Streamlined gameplay also Ok, did some extensive "testing". The game is really impro?ved and immersive - in general. But... - As already said, the eras pass too fast and your units get obsolete before you can use them. - Religions need to be improved by patches. Christianity and Islam are almost never adopted as state religions. There is no incentive for the AI and the player to do so. - Streamlined gameplay also causes the cities to get easily idle. To few buildings to build. - The PC can't keep up with the late game on a standard map. The delays and lag can become horrible. The same when you zoom out on a messy map. (CPU 2,8 and 512 RAM) Obvious pros: - Religion adds a new layer. - Culture conversion is a viable option, but not too easy achieved. - Civics are nice. I'm not sure if I am happy with the graphics. From a perspective of functionality 3D was surely not necessary. And it's a drain on system performance. On the other hand... well, I don't know. I guess you get used and grow fond of them. All in all a good game. I hope it will get better with patches.… Expand
  12. ROL
    Nov 6, 2005
    10
    If you expect to use the same strategies as civ 3 you'll hate this, it is quite different so takes a while to readjust. More factors complicate the strategy making it less formulaic. Some people have complained of slow performance, sound problems, and firaxis really should release a demo so people can see if this effects them. But my system is quite puny [AMD 2000, 512MB, FX5200] and If you expect to use the same strategies as civ 3 you'll hate this, it is quite different so takes a while to readjust. More factors complicate the strategy making it less formulaic. Some people have complained of slow performance, sound problems, and firaxis really should release a demo so people can see if this effects them. But my system is quite puny [AMD 2000, 512MB, FX5200] and it runs things fine on a standard map slowing down slightly at the end game but nothing drastic. Good game if you are willing to learn new strategies.; a really good game.… Expand
  13. DavidD.
    Nov 7, 2005
    10
    This game is absolutely stunning. One warning: you will get the chants stuck in your head with about 6 hours of play! This is one of the best games out there, but there are huge bugs on the MP. However, this will be fixed within the week.
  14. CG
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    Civ Rocks! Is the very best game ever!!!
  15. Scott
    Nov 8, 2005
    10
    The bets of the Civ games. The biggest problem with the older games in the series was overall game length. Its been fixed with many other great improvements.
  16. Ralph
    Nov 8, 2005
    9
    Like a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to get home from work and play some more. IN fact I might take off a few days to really get stuck in :) No problems with getting it to work out of the box even though I have an ATI 9700 pro video card.
  17. DanM.
    Oct 26, 2005
    10
    Best civ ever, and now its noob friendly... too bad ill have to drop out of college now...
  18. [Anonymous]
    Oct 26, 2005
    10
    One of the best games of ALL TIME.
  19. Sam
    Oct 27, 2005
    10
    I've played em all and more or less left the series after the last was such a flop. I cannot harp enough on how great this game actually is...I have never played a Civ game as good as this. Has the charm of the original matched with new game improving features. I couldn't have asked for more.
  20. DavidS.
    Oct 28, 2005
    10
    Amazing. The games are of the right length, not too long that you can't try out new strategies, but long enough to make it feel important. The epic Spearman vs. Tank battles don't happen AS much, but it's still an issue. Much easier on the eyes. The interface is streamlined, the bottom left has a box with info depending on where you're clicking. Best in Civilization Amazing. The games are of the right length, not too long that you can't try out new strategies, but long enough to make it feel important. The epic Spearman vs. Tank battles don't happen AS much, but it's still an issue. Much easier on the eyes. The interface is streamlined, the bottom left has a box with info depending on where you're clicking. Best in Civilization series and contending with AC for best TBS.… Expand
  21. ShawnK.
    Oct 29, 2005
    10
    IF I could give it a 9.9 I would because of some technical issues involving on-line play that caused me and three to completely lose a three hour game. Other than that, perfect this far in my view.
  22. Frank
    Oct 31, 2005
    9
    Good game overall. Could be better. I think the pace of the game is too fast. You can't actually enjoy the feel of an Era, because tech progress goes so fast. Even on Epic, the time you spend building an army to crush an ennemy makes your units obselete before the end of the war! At the end of my first war, i upgraded archer for marines!!! Need more playing maybe...
  23. WalterR.
    Oct 30, 2005
    8
    I'm a big fan of the series but this time around I'm left wondering why such a big departure from the others. I still rate Alpha Centauri as the best and still play it on occasion. Most of what disappointed me about this one is the combat units... too big for one, no reliable way of knowing defensive strengths and why the bowman is such a defensive powerhouse. The graphics are I'm a big fan of the series but this time around I'm left wondering why such a big departure from the others. I still rate Alpha Centauri as the best and still play it on occasion. Most of what disappointed me about this one is the combat units... too big for one, no reliable way of knowing defensive strengths and why the bowman is such a defensive powerhouse. The graphics are beautiful but sorry to say they aren't easier on the eyes, leaves me cockeyed really and why the change from left to right click for unit movements. Here's hoping for Alpha Centauri II...… Expand
  24. J.J.
    Oct 31, 2005
    6
    "Kind to n00bs!" (Dumbed down to the extreme), hate the civics system, the interface is a mess... BUT IT'S CIV!!!! Feel really ambivalent about this one.. but if this is the way that PC gaming is going, I might have to stop playing games and get a life ;0)
  25. RonnyE.
    Oct 31, 2005
    10
    An easy 10. Hard to find any flaws with it. I even liked civ3, but this is much better.
  26. JasonW.
    Oct 31, 2005
    10
    Note to David P. - You didn't give the game a 10 because "1) lesser units can still destroy greater units, e.g. cavalry destroying an Apache helicopter." If you look at the actual odds of this happening it would be extremely rare. Like one in a million. Even if you have a severely damages gunship vs. a heavily fortified and upgraded cavalry, the gunship will still usually win. I Note to David P. - You didn't give the game a 10 because "1) lesser units can still destroy greater units, e.g. cavalry destroying an Apache helicopter." If you look at the actual odds of this happening it would be extremely rare. Like one in a million. Even if you have a severely damages gunship vs. a heavily fortified and upgraded cavalry, the gunship will still usually win. I don't see the problem. You also said "why are the units so large? Tanks and soldiers tower over cityscapes. I'd love to see a more realistic sense of scale, so that the game itself takes on a greater sense of scale." Well it wouldn't make any sense to have units actual size. You would not be able to see them at all on the map. You are basically viewing the world from outer space. It would make no sense at all to have the units represented to scale on the map.… Expand
  27. JakeL.
    Jan 13, 2006
    10
    Great game! They have fixed all of the problems with the old game and made this one much better!
  28. EdoardoD.
    Jan 2, 2006
    8
    Excellent game! Not as complex as Civilization 3, but there are some new things to compensate! I don't understand the need for a 3d world, it makes the game graphic quite heavy and slow down everything, especially in multiplayer. Nevertheless the best Sid Meyer's Civilization!
  29. AndrewR.
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    Fantastic game! Multiplayer is absolutely amazing. Definately get it if you're a fan of strategy games.
  30. Bass
    Jan 6, 2006
    10
    Seriously, if you have not already go and buy this game right now. I could literally talk for hours about how amazing and addictive this title is but you can never truely understand such things until you play it for yourself. I was unlucky enough to miss previous installments in the Civilization series, and was overjoyed when this forth game was finally announced. Incredibly accessible Seriously, if you have not already go and buy this game right now. I could literally talk for hours about how amazing and addictive this title is but you can never truely understand such things until you play it for yourself. I was unlucky enough to miss previous installments in the Civilization series, and was overjoyed when this forth game was finally announced. Incredibly accessible and overflowing with depth and creativity, Civ 4 is easily the game of the year for the PC, and overall the series of Civ titles are with out a doubt some of the best games ever made on any platform.… Expand
  31. MurderousEmu
    Feb 26, 2006
    9
    I can't believe some of the reasons people have for giving this game a bad rating. Ok, the steep system requirements and buggy initial release are valid, but wanting the scale of units to be more accurate? You idiots. How would you be able to see them? Then there's the gripe about the game playing itself. It has 7 or 8 difficulty levels, try a harder one if it's too easy I can't believe some of the reasons people have for giving this game a bad rating. Ok, the steep system requirements and buggy initial release are valid, but wanting the scale of units to be more accurate? You idiots. How would you be able to see them? Then there's the gripe about the game playing itself. It has 7 or 8 difficulty levels, try a harder one if it's too easy for you, or just turn off the tips and City Governors. I agree that it suggests some pretty stupid moves, but a 10 second look through the Options menu solves that problem you retards. And finally, my favorite; "Why isn't there a difference between religions?" Gee, let's think about this for a minute. I really can't see any problems coming from that. Who would get offended or argue over differing views on something as trivial as Religion? (That was sarcasm). Besides, does it really matter? You can still create a peaceful, loving civ, or a nation full of war-mongering fanatics. What you call the god that you do these things in the name of is just a formality really. Civ IV is a great game that shows an honest effort by Firaxis not to rest on there laurels, but to improve upon an already great formula. If you don't think they accomplished that, at least come up with a good reason.… Expand
  32. JohnC.
    Apr 14, 2006
    6
    I originally purchased this game for my 10 year old son. After spending $50 AND upgrading my video card, I found that this is the optimal age range for this game. While the variation from game to game may keep older people interested, long spells consisting of only "Click To End Turn" while waiting for things to happen will make you wish you just downloaded a Beta version.
  33. G.I.
    Apr 26, 2006
    10
    The best Civ ever. Much improved in every aspect. I can't believe all the nay-sayers. They shouldn't lose time with TBS anyway if they can't appreciate Civ IV.
  34. BradR.
    May 26, 2006
    10
    Unit promotions and inventive new wonders push the strategy to a new level. AI is improved as well. it waits until it has an optimal amount of units before advancing, rather than immediatly sending new units into battle, no matter the odds. I'm still waiting to for them to ressurect the advisor's screen in Civ2 where you have Elvis and Co.
  35. MattB.
    Jul 11, 2006
    10
    At first it was hard to transfer from Civ3 to Civ4, but once you get how to play a great experience. The online can be slow when loading, but once you get going its real fun. A great strategy game and well improved.
  36. PeterM.
    Jul 2, 2006
    8
    Great game, although it stops in 2780 AD. Probably my civ is too large. At end turn, the game stops.
  37. ChrisC.
    Feb 24, 2007
    10
    Hated this when I first played it. I'd been a big fan of all three previous Civilization versions and just could not believe what they'd done to the latest version. The maps seemed smaller, a lot of things appeared to be simplified, etc. However, a few hours later I was hooked - this is by far the best of the series. The unimportant stuff's been automated and some new key Hated this when I first played it. I'd been a big fan of all three previous Civilization versions and just could not believe what they'd done to the latest version. The maps seemed smaller, a lot of things appeared to be simplified, etc. However, a few hours later I was hooked - this is by far the best of the series. The unimportant stuff's been automated and some new key elements added such as religions. If you like strategy games, this is a must.… Expand
  38. JohnD.
    May 19, 2007
    10
    Amazing strategy and just the incredible amount of variablity.
  39. MikeC.
    Jul 23, 2007
    10
    Back in college, i'd play civ 2 for fifteen hours, only getting up from my chair to pee. i have been a huge civ fan for over a decade. i loved civ2, didn't care so much for civ3; as for civ4...oh my god, this is the best video game ever created, hands down. Woohoo!!!
  40. ZachF.
    Jan 2, 2008
    10
    To all the people who say "this game sucks", "you can't build more than 6 or 7 cities because the economy crashes", and other things, tell me which is more realistic: 1. 30 tiny little towns all based around one big city, which is constantly having people go make more tiny little towns. 2. 6 or 7 large, well developed cities, with little tiny towns (the civ 4 way, not the civ 3 way To all the people who say "this game sucks", "you can't build more than 6 or 7 cities because the economy crashes", and other things, tell me which is more realistic: 1. 30 tiny little towns all based around one big city, which is constantly having people go make more tiny little towns. 2. 6 or 7 large, well developed cities, with little tiny towns (the civ 4 way, not the civ 3 way of towns) growing into more large, well developed cities. To elaborate, the civ 3 towns, in my view, are size 1 and size 2 cities, and civ 4 towns, in my view, are the "town" culture improvement.… Expand
  41. NealV.
    Feb 26, 2008
    9
    Very good and addicting gameplay. Fans of the genre will spend hours replaying with different civilizations and options. Difficulty allows players of different abilities and investment to play at a challenging level. Only drawback is ok AI and tedious micromanagement near the end of the game. Expansion packs help with the AI.
  42. marca
    Nov 21, 2009
    5
    Loved Civ 1 and 2, played Civ 3 quite possibly more than any game, so take it from me this is not a low score from someone who rarely plays such games....but Civ 4 is just well, meh....so disappointing. Graphically I actually prefer 3 in many ways, the units look bad, the cartoony leaders just shout out that they're dumbing the game down for more casual gamers....the religion aspect Loved Civ 1 and 2, played Civ 3 quite possibly more than any game, so take it from me this is not a low score from someone who rarely plays such games....but Civ 4 is just well, meh....so disappointing. Graphically I actually prefer 3 in many ways, the units look bad, the cartoony leaders just shout out that they're dumbing the game down for more casual gamers....the religion aspect is a welcome addition, but it wasn't long before I was playing mods to keep the interest going. I have since played Civ 3 a few times, but Civ 4 is gathering dust on my shelf. Galactic Civs 2 is my current game of choice for this genre.… Expand
  43. JohnM
    Jan 25, 2009
    10
    I've played a lot of turn based strategy games. This one is the best, particularly with the expansions. Tremendous replayability. The AI is fairly challenging. There are many different paths to victory and each is completely different. More than 3 years after this game was released I am still playing it regularly.
  44. JustinSt.J
    Oct 31, 2009
    9
    Excellent game. Enormous replay value. Great online play. There is tons going on and tons of factors to consider... perhaps too many. The game has a good reference guide built in yet this guide is constantly lacking critical information.
  45. EP
    Nov 13, 2005
    9
    This is easilly the best civ game ever made. The quantity of viable options and strategies available has exploded while issues with the arduous micro management and boring end game have been all but erased. I will have to deduct a point from my rating for two things, though: Firstly, while the new graphics look nice, I find them somewhat superfluous and unnecessarily restrictive. I'd This is easilly the best civ game ever made. The quantity of viable options and strategies available has exploded while issues with the arduous micro management and boring end game have been all but erased. I will have to deduct a point from my rating for two things, though: Firstly, while the new graphics look nice, I find them somewhat superfluous and unnecessarily restrictive. I'd love to play this game on my laptop as well. Secondly, some areas of the game, such as the civilopedia and the advisor screens, lack a bit of polish. I'm sure official patches or fanmade mods will address these issues eventually.… Expand
  46. LeeH.
    Nov 18, 2005
    5
    This is one of the few games that I disliked enough to take back. 1. I love the original Civ. But here we are at Civ IV and *nothing substantial has been improved*. There
  47. ClaudC.
    Nov 29, 2005
    8
    It improves on some points of the game such as getting rid of waste/corruption and replacing it with a city maintenance cost. But I would have to agree with some of the other people here that they broke the civilopedia, and not being able to trade resources and tech is silly. To Lee H. what civ have you been playing in the previous versions of civ the combat animation consisted of a guy It improves on some points of the game such as getting rid of waste/corruption and replacing it with a city maintenance cost. But I would have to agree with some of the other people here that they broke the civilopedia, and not being able to trade resources and tech is silly. To Lee H. what civ have you been playing in the previous versions of civ the combat animation consisted of a guy swinging a sword or firing a gun real "in-depth". To Ed "If you've never played a Civ before, you should, but once you've played any one of them, you've more of less played them all" if you tell me you played civ 1 and then civ 2 and you think they are all the same then you were sleeping when you played 1. Wel I think this game is an improvement overall even though they did break some things so it get an 8.… Expand
  48. A.D.
    Nov 3, 2005
    10
    This game is keeping with the classic Civ's. Adding new aspects to the game that really keeps you on your toe's. Something going on every turn.
  49. KonstantinT.
    Nov 7, 2005
    10
    I've played a LOT of strategy games, but this is the most AMAZING game i've ever had the pleasure of playing.
  50. Alpha
    Dec 15, 2005
    10
    Easily game of the year, not even BF2 comes close. When people say this game has great replay value, they're not lying. The multiplayer function is great, if you ever get bored of the single player (you shouldn't anyways), there's always the option of kicking someone's ass online. Contrary to what the others are saying, the game is very well balanced and runs very Easily game of the year, not even BF2 comes close. When people say this game has great replay value, they're not lying. The multiplayer function is great, if you ever get bored of the single player (you shouldn't anyways), there's always the option of kicking someone's ass online. Contrary to what the others are saying, the game is very well balanced and runs very stable, haven't crashed once. Definitely a lot better than Civ3, and just as good (if not better) than Civ1-2. Great game.… Expand
  51. Christo
    Dec 20, 2005
    10
    Game of the Decade...so far. Small bugs will be worked out soon. Firaxis is good at that.
  52. Ben
    Dec 23, 2005
    10
    The real successor to Civilzation II - a blast to play, and a really marvelous soundtrack. All factors combine to create more than just a game - it's a real experience. Depth - as many reviewers have noted - is the key.
  53. AllisonS.
    Dec 27, 2005
    10
    Just plain gorgeous! I'm never going back to clunky old Civ 2
  54. G.C.
    Dec 30, 2005
    10
    All I have to say to the whiners complaining of it being dumbed down is, use your brain and turn off the automation. This is still the best game ever, and while the concept wouldn't change (shy should it?), they've made some adjustments that seem to make the game overall more intuitive and workable.
  55. Matthias
    Oct 23, 2005
    10
    Civ has always been one of the greatest games in a league of its own and this one surpases all hopes with a multiplayer that works, along with amazing improvements to all other aspects of gameplay.
  56. KevinP.
    Oct 26, 2005
    7
    Amazing game - absolutely streamlined and oh my god the multiplayer works! Finally! However, I've taken off three points for the two things that keep me from totally dedicating my life to this game: 1) lesser units can still destroy greater units, e.g. cavalry destroying an Apache helicopter, and 2) why are the units so large? Tanks and soldiers tower over cityscapes. I'd love Amazing game - absolutely streamlined and oh my god the multiplayer works! Finally! However, I've taken off three points for the two things that keep me from totally dedicating my life to this game: 1) lesser units can still destroy greater units, e.g. cavalry destroying an Apache helicopter, and 2) why are the units so large? Tanks and soldiers tower over cityscapes. I'd love to see a more realistic sense of scale, so that the game itself takes on a greater sense of scale.… Expand
  57. SouravM.
    Oct 26, 2005
    10
    Superb. Best in the civilization . Very nice gameplay.
  58. JohnK.
    Oct 29, 2005
    10
    Fantastic. Best game I've played since Civ 2, Or Frontier.
  59. S.Omer
    Feb 19, 2006
    10
    Best game ever. AI is really good, alot of depth AND great graphics (after patching). Buy this game. Period.
  60. MilesL.
    Dec 28, 2007
    10
    I have never spent so much time on a game, even though i only played single player
  61. YannickB.
    Oct 29, 2007
    9
    It's a great game with a whole range of concepts and stuff, you can spend hours creating your empire, it's just sad there's only a turn-based mode, i'd love to play without the turns.
  62. MarkV.
    Jan 24, 2008
    10
    This game is a huge improvement from the last versions so I give this a ten.
  63. Oyster
    Jun 18, 2008
    8
    This game is very fun to play, but it's pretty unbalanced.
  64. DavidM.
    Jul 14, 2008
    10
    I love simulation games, and this is undoubtedly my favorite and, in my opinion, the best out there!
  65. DavidB.
    Sep 19, 2008
    10
    Falls very short of being as good as the CIV II and a great evolution if you put against Civ III. This game is awesome. The EXP only add flavour to the game, as it is comlet by it´s own. The religion aproach was great and the animations and batle system is very good. But if like really realistic games , than make your own. Even Europa Universalis isn´t completely accurate and Falls very short of being as good as the CIV II and a great evolution if you put against Civ III. This game is awesome. The EXP only add flavour to the game, as it is comlet by it´s own. The religion aproach was great and the animations and batle system is very good. But if like really realistic games , than make your own. Even Europa Universalis isn´t completely accurate and realistic, but there sure are fun. Buy it.… Expand
  66. JeraW
    Nov 2, 2009
    10
    This game brought Civilization up to date, addressing many of the old issues such as city sprawl and other limitations that did not match the simulation of empires and advancement that Sid Meier's originally envisioned. Fireaxis had done a great job with the game. They stayed true to the spirit of the game while also starting afresh. The game is the only game I have ever given a 10 This game brought Civilization up to date, addressing many of the old issues such as city sprawl and other limitations that did not match the simulation of empires and advancement that Sid Meier's originally envisioned. Fireaxis had done a great job with the game. They stayed true to the spirit of the game while also starting afresh. The game is the only game I have ever given a 10 rating too.… Expand
  67. Zhan
    Nov 15, 2005
    7
    Excellent new look and interface (with some glitches), and the best opportunities for modding and customizing. However, some of the changes to the rules and gameplay seem poorly thought out and/or lack imagination.
  68. JasonB.
    Nov 16, 2005
    10
    I have been waiting over a decade for this game. Sure, in that time Civ 2 and Civ 3 came out, but they pale in comparison to the 4th installment. Civilization was the first game I was ever addicted to, and I plan on a Civilization game of the future being the LAST game I am addicted to as well.
  69. JohnV.
    Nov 21, 2005
    5
    I know a 5 rating is kinda harsh but deserving for ruining the whole feel of Civ. Forget playing this game without at least 1Gig of ram. I'm a huge fan, play old Civ games all the time but this one I've only played 2x and go days between sittings. The game goes too slow early on then really fast at the end. Too many wonders, a lot of good old ones are gone in favour of alot of I know a 5 rating is kinda harsh but deserving for ruining the whole feel of Civ. Forget playing this game without at least 1Gig of ram. I'm a huge fan, play old Civ games all the time but this one I've only played 2x and go days between sittings. The game goes too slow early on then really fast at the end. Too many wonders, a lot of good old ones are gone in favour of alot of new American ones. A really good concept of armies from CivIII has been abandoned, what a shame. I prefer playing with the single unit option, the multiple unit option really bugs me. A real system hog, I remember playing Civ II as a regular windowed program, I must have played that game a hundred times. NOw I can't cross mountains..., forests provide greater defence than hills, why? Artillery can only bombard cities, that's just not right. Not enough time to build spaceship in harder games. Can't trade techs and resources at the same time, a real step backwards. The better graphics don't justify the sacrifice in system resource penalty. I've got to use a cliche here,... One step forward, two steps back!… Expand
  70. davidm
    Dec 26, 2005
    6
    AI does almost everything for you -- and poorly. Don't like the interface, units too large, can't see the big picture, hard to control precise unit movements. Very pretty and has some of the features of the original civ(s), but, believe me, if this had been Civ I, there never would have been a Civ 4. A bloated, pretty, shallow monstrosity of an ending to the series. Overall,AI does almost everything for you -- and poorly. Don't like the interface, units too large, can't see the big picture, hard to control precise unit movements. Very pretty and has some of the features of the original civ(s), but, believe me, if this had been Civ I, there never would have been a Civ 4. A bloated, pretty, shallow monstrosity of an ending to the series. Overall, kinda sad.… Expand
  71. AlexM.
    Nov 18, 2007
    10
    This game is amazing, but even better than original content is the user community thats helped craft it into a game engine that can do anything.
  72. Anon
    Dec 26, 2007
    10
    Really solid and fun turn based strategy game, and worthy sequel to Civ series. It's not perfect, though. It has few bugs, and the AI is not that good, but these are minor flaws, as the game itself is really enjoyable and replayable. I'd give it 8 or 9, but for the sheer despise for the ignorant people who gave this game 0-2 points, I'll give it a 10. Even disasters like Really solid and fun turn based strategy game, and worthy sequel to Civ series. It's not perfect, though. It has few bugs, and the AI is not that good, but these are minor flaws, as the game itself is really enjoyable and replayable. I'd give it 8 or 9, but for the sheer despise for the ignorant people who gave this game 0-2 points, I'll give it a 10. Even disasters like Halo 3 deserve more than 2 points.… Expand
  73. JohnR
    Dec 14, 2008
    9
    This is my first experience of Civilisation and I'm impressed. I love the 'Great Person' feature and the Golden Ages. There are some excellent unique units and buildings - I always play as Peter The Great because Cossacks give me a distinct advantage over Cavalry in the middle part of the game. There are some excellent wonders to build as well. Always save the Globe Theatre This is my first experience of Civilisation and I'm impressed. I love the 'Great Person' feature and the Golden Ages. There are some excellent unique units and buildings - I always play as Peter The Great because Cossacks give me a distinct advantage over Cavalry in the middle part of the game. There are some excellent wonders to build as well. Always save the Globe Theatre and National Park wonders until the end of the game when you'll have a large population (my biggest city had a population of 40) ! My only gripe is a complaint I would also level against games such as Rise of Nations : at the end of the game the original uniqueness of the different civs has disappeared and every civ is pretty much the same. I suppose this is realistic though. Also, micromanagement can get a bit tedious when you have 30 or 40 cities. However, this is a game that I'll come back to time and time again because it has plenty of depth and every game is different. I wish there were more old school PC games in development. We can only hope. Another winner from Sid Meier.… Expand
  74. Stylo
    Sep 18, 2010
    10
    By far the best Civ game. Everything, from the military aspect to managing your cities, feel so balanced. In addition, there are plenty of ways to win a battle. Every game truly feels different.
  75. Drissit
    Jul 20, 2011
    10
    Simple the best Civ in the entire series, and if Civ 5 is any clue, its also going to be the pinnacle of the series since the new one is completely awful, oh well at least this one has re-play ability similar to SMAC.
  76. YeshuaAgapao
    Nov 2, 2011
    10
    The most moddable Civ game out there, if you're a coder. The last game distributed in a 'free' way (not forced to use steam, only DRM crap is the copy protection on the CD/DVD) and where the mods are also independently distributable. Lots more features and some eyecandy too. The last good Civilization game.
  77. ArtfulGamer8
    Feb 2, 2012
    10
    to all those who gave it less than 5-6 , the features are perfect u need to bring yourself up instead of sticking up with old features. and for those who cannot tolerate the game's slowness at least don't give bad ratings to ruin the games overall rating and mislead others.its nearly the best non-fight game out there.
  78. Cyrik
    Apr 30, 2012
    10
    This game is simply incredible I have played it often since I got it over a year ago if you have even the slightest interest in this kind of thing it is a must buy.
  79. mrmihailavdeev
    Mar 7, 2021
    10
    When I found out that Civilization IV had been out for a couple of years, I was still playing its predecessor. And if it weren't for the dozens or even hundreds of hours I've spent playing Civ3, coupled with fatigue from its limitations and dumb AI — Civ4 could, potentially, became my favourite instalment in the whole series. Looking back, the fourth part seems to be the most polished andWhen I found out that Civilization IV had been out for a couple of years, I was still playing its predecessor. And if it weren't for the dozens or even hundreds of hours I've spent playing Civ3, coupled with fatigue from its limitations and dumb AI — Civ4 could, potentially, became my favourite instalment in the whole series. Looking back, the fourth part seems to be the most polished and competent iteration of the iconic franchise. Especially if you compare the basic versions, without the paid DLC and add-ons, which the creators of the series are so like to abuse nowadays.

    Sid Meier's Civilization IV inherited the best features of its predecessors, polished its mechanics and made a lot of small changes and improvements to the well-established formula. Thanks to a much more user-friendly and informative interface, fancier graphics, mature stylistics (hello to cartoonish Civ6 and Revolution) and FullHD resolution support — the project looks and plays pleasantly to this day. And the amount of starting content, old and new civilizations, as well as the presence of alternative leaders are surprising.

    Of the drawbacks, I could mention the traditionally inadequate behaviour of the AI (especially when playing at marathon speed on huge maps with the maximum number of opponents), as well as the "unfair" difficulty, which increases not via the "cunning" AI, but through a system of bonuses for computer opponents and penalties for the player. But both of these problems are the scourge of the entire series, which the developers have successfully ignored for over two decades.

    Despite its solid age, Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a great starting point for getting to know the series, especially if you're not interested in online multiplayer. Unlike the newer instalments, Sid Meier's IV is much less demanding in terms of hardware and finances but is just as addictive.    … Expand
  80. mikhail_lem
    Nov 17, 2012
    10
    This is the most refined and complex Civ iteration to date. Be prepared for some serious empire management, as religion and health provide some new challenges in your path to world domination. Enemy AI is, as always, really clever and its ruthlessness will make you think again before declaring war on someone. The game rewards a skillful diplomacy more than ever before, as allies now are aThis is the most refined and complex Civ iteration to date. Be prepared for some serious empire management, as religion and health provide some new challenges in your path to world domination. Enemy AI is, as always, really clever and its ruthlessness will make you think again before declaring war on someone. The game rewards a skillful diplomacy more than ever before, as allies now are a help more than a nagging nuisance. Graphics are not the best, but they look cool anyway. Absolutely recommended.-… Expand
  81. joeybear
    Dec 28, 2012
    10
    The best PC game of all time (given you include the expansions), the only drawback here is the game will destroy your productivity. Civ 4 is still the gold standard in 4X strategy; holding up well 7 years after its release.
  82. Sean-M
    May 27, 2020
    8
    This is probably the best entry in Civ series. Considering when you have all the expansions. 8 out of 10.
  83. danielrocks
    Feb 3, 2014
    8
    This game is very time consuming and can get frustrating at times but overall it is amazing.....
    It is worth getting defiantly but play other games.
    P.S. Play on the american revolution mod. Its good
  84. Ydun79
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    Very good and addictive game. Also very good in multiplayer. It has somewhat of a learning curve but stick with it.
  85. Robobob
    Oct 24, 2017
    10
    The best Civilization game at the time of this review. Some later installments might have added some better features or streamlined some aspects a little better but Civ 4 was the best complete package. If you can find the Beyond the Sword expansion you should try the Rhyse and Fall of Civilization mod: THE best Civ mod ever that totally recreates the game. Civilizations appear on theThe best Civilization game at the time of this review. Some later installments might have added some better features or streamlined some aspects a little better but Civ 4 was the best complete package. If you can find the Beyond the Sword expansion you should try the Rhyse and Fall of Civilization mod: THE best Civ mod ever that totally recreates the game. Civilizations appear on the date they did in history and each has 3 difficult to accomplish historically relevant victory conditions that make each civ a unique play through. I nearly played that mod more than the base game.… Expand
  86. Archoniz
    Jul 5, 2015
    9
    1 of the most anticipated game through my life, next to Starcraft 2 and Sins of Solar Empire. The game is quite a good time-consumer which are varied in different way to win or deviate a plan on every part of the game. Good time to spend on 6 hours ++, Good animation, less 'buggy' and its awesome. CIV IV is fun to be in multiplayer and Skirmish, even it doesn't have campaign. THE verdict1 of the most anticipated game through my life, next to Starcraft 2 and Sins of Solar Empire. The game is quite a good time-consumer which are varied in different way to win or deviate a plan on every part of the game. Good time to spend on 6 hours ++, Good animation, less 'buggy' and its awesome. CIV IV is fun to be in multiplayer and Skirmish, even it doesn't have campaign. THE verdict is, its a real-time long chess match to be honest.… Expand
  87. Wiebe
    Feb 25, 2020
    8
    Best of the Civs, an 8 for its time, even though the game play on the board with the tiles and army movement is quite limited (and the balance for the army part as well).
  88. Hotair
    Jul 25, 2018
    8
    I have played thousands of Civ IV games -- literally -- mostly at the low-moderate levels of difficulty, viz. 'Chieftain' and 'Warlord' levels. I've enjoyed the game immensely; this game certainly deserves its 8+ score, but is not without its aggravating AI aspects. It's pretty common to have high, i.e. relentless, levels of barbarian activity early in the game; this can greatly scoreI have played thousands of Civ IV games -- literally -- mostly at the low-moderate levels of difficulty, viz. 'Chieftain' and 'Warlord' levels. I've enjoyed the game immensely; this game certainly deserves its 8+ score, but is not without its aggravating AI aspects. It's pretty common to have high, i.e. relentless, levels of barbarian activity early in the game; this can greatly score you down and compromise your chance of eventually getting good score. Personally I pursue a strategy of peace and rapid educational economic growth, however almost inevitably another civilization will attack you unprovoked. Some opponent civs, notably Montezuma, will attach even without prospect of beating you; you will eventually hold them off but at the cost of a huge set-back to you score. The only way to perhaps avoid or hold off attach is to invest in huge military resource. Apart from these annoying AI quirks, it's a great game.… Expand
  89. dlcatalin
    Jul 12, 2020
    1
    I really don't understand how people can find this ... enjoying or playable. The only good thing about it is claiming land where to build towns, the rest is a complete boring joke. Making roads turns into spaghetti mushed everywhere. Armies are nothing but stacks that take forever to fight, or instantly, that's it, just 2 options, wait 1 hour or 1 second with 0 animation. The battles areI really don't understand how people can find this ... enjoying or playable. The only good thing about it is claiming land where to build towns, the rest is a complete boring joke. Making roads turns into spaghetti mushed everywhere. Armies are nothing but stacks that take forever to fight, or instantly, that's it, just 2 options, wait 1 hour or 1 second with 0 animation. The battles are also unfair. It's like a dice roll, everything random, i mean basically caveman vs my 21 century soldier and still manages to kill 2 of my units? Really ? Spam towns, spam units, spam battles. Spam Civilization should be the name of this game.… Expand
  90. Darkatom
    May 20, 2018
    10
    Great game.
    First actual match I played I wasn't paying attention, Walked through India and got demolished by Nuke-Gandhi.
    Full points for realism.
  91. Amorph0us
    Jan 11, 2022
    8
    Maybe the best installment in the series. The level of detail on strategy is satisfactory and I really enjoyed my time playing it.
  92. Babutto
    Jan 20, 2022
    9
    I hated this game after Civ 3. But now, I changed my mind.

    Pros.: - The main advantage - it's simpler and faster. Game mechanics now are super convenient. There is no need to make dozens of units. Just have one dozen and it's enough to advance your troops. - Religion made some problems but with the proper management it creates a deep boundaries between neighbors. - Sharing borders is    I hated this game after Civ 3. But now, I changed my mind.

    Pros.:
    - The main advantage - it's simpler and faster. Game mechanics now are super convenient. There is no need to make dozens of units. Just have one dozen and it's enough to advance your troops.
    - Religion made some problems but with the proper management it creates a deep boundaries between neighbors.
    - Sharing borders is not a big issue now.
    - Dimplomacy became significantly better.
    - More civic policies.

    Cons.:
    - Maybe the same as before. If you fail to invest in the army at the beginning - you're done. The neighbors will attack.
    - A bit complicated with the city attacks. But it elevates the role of the artillery. Developed further in the following games.

    So, it's almost a perfect game. Lol. 20 years ago I would have said it's a disaster.    … Expand
  93. MatveyShirshik
    May 4, 2019
    10
    Cult strategy. One of the best games of all time. And one of the best parts in the series. Graphics for 2005 is not bad. The gameplay is great. Additions to the game are excellent. This game has no bugs for me. In general, the game gets 10/10
  94. Ne_Eretik
    Jan 1, 2021
    10
    В 2020, имея пс 4 про я поигрываю в эту цивилизацию. Не шарю в стратегиях, но по сравнению с 6 ой частью в которую играл, 4ая гораздо пизже, +не норм играется без длс, как не играется 6часть. Аргументы не будут, мне лень и я хочу спать)В 2020, имея пс 4 про я поигрываю в эту цивилизацию. Не шарю в стратегиях, но по сравнению с 6 ой частью в которую играл, 4ая гораздо пизже, +не норм играется без длс, как не играется 6часть. Аргументы не будут, мне лень и я хочу спать)
  95. Sprixy
    Sep 6, 2020
    8
    A good place to start playing Civilization and a fun gaming experience. Its strategy, history, and thinking all coming together to craft a masterpiece of a game. Overall, this game is something everyone should play.
  96. KaleSungurCrane
    Nov 20, 2020
    9
    OVERALL - 93%

    Gameplay - 8/10
    Graphics (for time) - 6/10
    Story - 5/10
    Game Length - 10/10
    Characters - 6/10
    Level/Area Design - 8/10
    Atmosphere - 7/10
    Sound Effects - 9/10
    Soundtrack - 9/10
    Replay Value - 10/10

    The best Civ game since Civ II. Leonard Nimoy adds so much character to the game and I'd happily play this game even now.
  97. eraybeycik
    Dec 24, 2020
    7
    Oyun zamanında iyidir belki ama şu an daha iyi seçenekler var oynamak için.
  98. MPGSpotter
    Dec 12, 2020
    9
    By far the best Civilization game vanilla. With mods it takes on the entire 4X genre
  99. JakubTyszko
    Feb 14, 2021
    5
    Good game but failed historical background lowers my ranking. This game could give a lot education but instead gives only propaganda.
  100. wf1675
    Jul 9, 2023
    8
    definitely one of my fav civs as of late but I don't like the happiness system feels like a bottleneck and I don't care for city-states and there's too many barbarians but its soooo much better than civ 6
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2005
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
8
#8 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 50 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 50
  3. Negative: 0 out of 50
  1. IGN
    94
    While the game hasn't lost any depth or detail, every aspect of the design has been streamlined to make it easier for new players to jump in and less monotonous for veterans. Die-hard fans will definitely find that the game offers up so much more variety this time around.
    Read full review
  2. Yahoo!
    90
    Firaxis shows an impressively consistent grasp of what to abstract and what to detail, and a remarkable talent for presenting large-scale strategic challenges in a format that's easy to digest.
    Read full review
  3. 1UP
    90
    From the mellow sounds of Leonard Nimoy's narration to the polished world view that allows you to smoothly scroll from satellite view to up-close and personal, this is the consummate update of a classic.
    Read full review
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