Sid Meier's Civilization IV

Sid Meier's Civilization IV featured image

As with the rest of Sid Meier’s Civilization series, the player controls a real historical civilization and leads it from the stone age to the space era.

Gameplay

The goal is to develop its culture, science, and economy and to conquer the neighboring countries if you feel like it. There are eighteen playable civilizations in the game with some of them having multiple leaders to choose from. Each PC-controlled leader is based on an actual historical figure and has his or her unique personality traits, such as being diplomatic or aggressive.

Visuals and other features

Civilization IV was the first to introduce different religions rather than an abstract "religion" as a concept. There are seven available religions that can be founded during the game and spread across the map, increasing their founder's influence and boosting his citizens' happiness. The fourth part also introduced the idea of Great People, such as scientists, artists, and prophets, who are also based on actual persons. Corruption mechanic was removed and replaced with expensive building maintenance. Barbarians, who used to be just random enemy units, now can build cities that, however, will not contact with the player via diplomacy and should only be eliminated.

Release Date

Oct 25, 2005

Metacritic Score

94

Rating

DLCs

3

Play Time

13 hours

Games in Series

5

ESRB

Everyone 10+

System Requirements

Minimum:

  • CPU: 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor or equivalent
  • RAM: 256 MB RAM (Windows 2000) / 512 MB RAM (Windows XP)
  • GPU: DirectX 9.0c-compatible 64 MB video card with Hardware T&L support ( GeForce 2/Radeon 7500 or better)
  • HDD: 1.7 GB

Recommended:

  • CPU: 1.8 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor or equivalent
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • GPU: 128 MB Video Card w/ DirectX 8 support (pixel & vertex shaders)
  • HDD: 1.7 GB

Interesting Facts

  • Civilization IV uses the 4X empire-building model for turn-based strategy gameplay.
  • The player’s main objective is to construct a civilization from limited initial resources.
  • Players control an empire and “explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate”.
  • The game can be played in multiple modes.
  • The player is then given a total of 18 different civilizations to choose from.
  • Civilization IV has a fog of war feature.
  • The game features seven religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism) that are founded by the first civilization to research a certain technology which varies per religion.
  • Civilization IV is much more open to modification than its predecessors were.

Mod Support

Yes

Cheats support

Yes

Family/Child Friendly

Yes

Number of maps

17

Platforms

Android iOS Linux macOS Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 Xbox One

Genres

Strategy

Game Engine

Gamebryo

Protagonist sex

Male

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