Sid Meier's Civilization VI (2016)

Fun simulation game for building an empire, but prefer something a bit deeper in game play vs. just clicking here or there to complete actions. Really was hoping for a deeper battle system, etc. specifically when playing offline against AI.

Civilization is one of my all-time favorite games, and the leap from the fifth to the sixth game is epic. It offers new mechanics, tons of stuff to do and build and a fresh new look over the older games. There is some new and relaxing music, more factions and overall, it is a huge improvement over the previous game.

Civilization has always been a turned based game in which you can build, move, attack or improve buildings in your turn. Every faction does their move simultaneously and after that, a new round starts. You win the game by conquering all the capitals, achieve cultural victory, science victory or a religious victory. This means that you are not bound to one specific goal. If your military sucks for example, you can try to build as many museums, theaters and zoo’s as possible, to get victorious on tourism and culture. You can trade with other factions/people, build alliances, open your borders, make some shady deals, it is just great.

You can play as many different world leaders from the days of old to the modern era. Alexander the Great, Saladin, Queen Victoria, and many more, they are all there. They all have their special bonusses and you should take advantage of them by building your empire accordingly. For example, Saladin is more focused on religion and trade and only in the starting eras, his military is strong. When the modern age arrives, you really struggle to achieve military successes. Every character has a little backstory that is historically accurate and fun to read.

The game is meant to be played online against friends or other people but offers some scenarios and a skirmish mode for you to play solo. You can always play against the AI factions, which are really well done. The balance of the AI is great and if you want a challenge, you will surely get it.

This installment in the series offer new mechanics like natural disasters, new ways of collecting resources from the map and a new system in which your era score determines if you are entering a golden age or a dark age. With a golden age, you prosper and thrive, with a dark age, you struggle to come around. You earn era score by discovering great inventions, doing research and achieve eureka moments. These new mechanics do require some DLC tough. I really liked the natural disaster mechanic, but sometimes, it got a little over the top. When you see your towns melt away by an active volcano, your harbor washed away by the twelfth million flood and see Darude with his sandstorm, raving over your farmlands, you know, they got no mercy on you.

The graphics and animations are beautiful. The map is blooming with life and movement, and I really like that everything is just so colorful and detailed. Many times, I zoom in close on my empire to see all the different quarries, lumber mills and dams spin and turn.

The sound effects and music are perfect. They are well designed for this game, and I think this is one of the better sound and music designs I have seen. The ambient music is really relaxing and when your units engage in combat, the shots and hits sound just great.

Like usual, Civilization is a hard game. It takes strategy, practice and management to master this game and even then, factors like starting point, barbarians and aggression from other players or states weigh even heavier. However, the game does offer excellent tutorials and gives you a fair chance to learn it.

Civilization VI is a game that I play to relax, with or without friends. Just taking my time, slowly building and developing my empire. I feel no stress, no time pressure, just pure joy and chill. It is one of the few games that I can always pick up and play, without it ever boring me. Maybe Civilization VII will be even better, I don’t know, but for now, this is just a masterpiece of a game that will always be one of my favorites.

Definitely recommend this gem.