Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm

 PC
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Gameblog.fr
    Feb 20, 2019
    70
    Gathering Storm is a good extension, and the ecology/pollution is a good surprise. On an other hand, diplomacy and the National Congress is lack of depth.
  2. PC Invasion
    Feb 12, 2019
    70
    Civilization VI: Gathering Storm has new leaders, wonders, and mechanics to freshen up your experience. Unfortunately, some of these features occur fairly late, or are non-factors in your playthroughs.
  3. PCGamesN
    Feb 11, 2019
    70
    The new World Congress and climate change mirror real-life in that they're partly beyond your control, making them hard to factor into your schemes. The new civs are among the best and most novel in the game, though.
  5. Riot Pixels
    Mar 17, 2019
    65
    Gathering Storm brings a few notable additions to Civilization 6, but most of them are half-baked. When combined with Rise & Fall, they drastically change the original formula, yet I can’t shake the feeling that this expansion could have been so much better.
  6. GameWatcher
    Mar 4, 2019
    65
    In the end, Gathering Storm brings a few new toys to the sixth entry of the classical turn-based franchise, but does hedge a few bets on the natural disaster part of the deal. While those are an interesting addition, they are not meaningful enough to spearhead a whole expansion – and certainly not at the full prices charged by 2K.
  7. CD-Action
    Dec 11, 2019
    60
    There is a fear in Firaxis to truly revolutionize the gameplay and it’s a shame that Gathering Storm’s potentially exciting new mechanics actually modify it ever so slightly. [03/2019, p.52]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 4, 2019
    60
    In a new addition to the Sixth Civilization, you deal with the environment. You'll be pleased by the World Congress and a more interesting diplomacy. However, it gets difficult to navigate in the flood of details. [Issue#294]
    All this publication's reviews
  9. Gamer.no
    Mar 1, 2019
    60
    Gathering Storm offers a mixed bag. The ambition is clear, with climate change and the World Congress being major changes that sadly fails to fully live up to their potential. At the same time, the new resource mechanics are engaging, and the new leaders and other additions make for an expansion filled with content. Nevertheless, Gathering Storm does not live up to the standards set by last year's expansion, Rise and Fall.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

?
  1. GameCrate
    Feb 11, 2019
    If you're a Civilization VI fan, adding Gathering Storm to your game isn't a hard choice. It adds depth where the game needs it and brings some fascinating new civilizations into the fold. Civ VI has charted a polarizing new course for the franchise since its original release, and there's nothing in Gathering Storm that will make you like the core game if you don't already enjoy it.
  2. Kotaku
    Feb 12, 2019
    Even taking its whiffs and missed opportunities into account, I’ve still loved every hour I’ve spent with Gathering Storm. It’s an expansion that may not stick its landing, but which should still be applauded and admired for the way it sets out to change the very world we play on, and succeeds.
  3. Polygon
    Feb 11, 2019
    Gathering Storm is a useful evolution of Civilization 6. Firaxis has made smart choices in addressing global warming, diplomacy, and its own sagging late-game. But even when it’s all added together, I don’t believe it warrants a price tag of $40. As much as I love this game, and as much as I don’t expect to be loved back, I do expect to be at least respected.
  5. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Feb 14, 2019
    Gathering Storm is a chunky collection of small remixes that amount to a big difference. All the same, I’m left feeling that the next Civ game, whatever it is, really needs a root and branch rethink rather than attempts to retroactively justify its existence through expensive expansion packs.
  6. Strategy Gamer
    Feb 19, 2019
    When it comes to worth, Gathering Storm is fun, but hard to justify its full paying price of nearly £35. Unlike Rise and Fall’s multiple game changes involving timelines, eras, and mandates -- which effectively turn the game from a “live in the moment” endeavour to a proper long-term tailoring experience -- this new expansions mostly gives you more things to react to. Truth is, without Rise and Fall, Civ VI is still a worse game than Civ V, and with Gathering Storm alone, it’s not even in the same league at all.
  7. The Verge
    Feb 13, 2019
    It’s a lot easier to build a better world in a video game like Gathering Storm than in real life. But trying to build even a simplistic version of one can be a whole lot of fun.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best PC Game of 2019
45
#45 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 86
  3. Negative: 18 out of 86
  1. Hurrrr
    Feb 16, 2019
    6
    Game is decent, but needs a lot of balancing and bug fixes until I can recommend it at this price.
    40 eur? Nope.
    Diplomacy is broken: AI    Game is decent, but needs a lot of balancing and bug fixes until I can recommend it at this price.
    40 eur? Nope.

    Diplomacy is broken:
    AI is making silly choices and demands left and right, if you play with more than 6 civilization you will go crazy with the amount of stupidity AI offers you each turn (not to mention trade offer spam which mostly is ridiculous)

    World congress:
    Very disappointed. It's unrealistic and deals mostly with resources.
    Imagine all the world leaders coming together and deciding what to do with extra spices or camels.
    Basically, you will see this:
    A: Resource X brings +1 amenities.
    B: Resource X brings no amenities.

    Needs a lot of improvement

    And finally, environment effects: YOU DONT FEEL THEM.
    The most advertised feature is really underpowered and you hardly notice it.
    Just click away notifications and build the right improvements.

    Anyhow, until these things are fixed, I can't recommend getting the game at 40 eur, wait for a discount.    … Full Review »
  2. devilchao0
    Feb 20, 2019
    1
    The new expansion adds almost nothing to the game, and at a price point of $40 you'd have to be an idiot to purchase this. The global warmingThe new expansion adds almost nothing to the game, and at a price point of $40 you'd have to be an idiot to purchase this. The global warming mechanic doesn't kick in at all until the very end game, and many games will have been won before anything this DLC adds kicks in.… Full Review »
  3. ScienceAdvisor
    Feb 17, 2019
    5
    Mediocre early access for an unfinished DLC that is being packaged and sold as an expansion. The new AI needs work, the new systems needMediocre early access for an unfinished DLC that is being packaged and sold as an expansion. The new AI needs work, the new systems need proper integration in a meaningful way, and a balancing pass (or three) would not hurt. It is 20% off after only a few days, but I would be patient and wait for a 50%+ off sale.

    The news on 2K that hit in mid-Feb (2019) is correct, if a little late. They are, and have been data mining you since early 2018. The worrying fact is that unlike good companies, they do not promise the information is for their own, internal use, and will not be sold to third parties. If you avoid Twitter or Facebook for their policies, then 2K is on your blacklist. At least until they update it with the appropriate promise of privacy for us in their Privacy Policy (where they hid these clauses instead of integrating them in their EULA where it would be highly visible).    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »