Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

 PC
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1085 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 344 out of 1085
  2. Mixed: 375 out of 1085
  3. Negative: 366 out of 1085
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  1. Garet1218
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    A great throwback for Alpha Centauri fans!
    The new mechanics and atmosphere really separate it from other Civ titles, and really the themes remind me a lot more of Alpha centauri. I feel like if this had come out and Civ 5 was not a thing, it would had been held as revolutionary. I think far too many will group it with Civ 5 for using the same engine. They are two quite different games    A great throwback for Alpha Centauri fans!
    The new mechanics and atmosphere really separate it from other Civ titles, and really the themes remind me a lot more of Alpha centauri. I feel like if this had come out and Civ 5 was not a thing, it would had been held as revolutionary. I think far too many will group it with Civ 5 for using the same engine. They are two quite different games though. I say this as a long time fan.
    I for one love that they made culture more useful in a game play sense, they made espionage what it use to be back in the old days... Awesome..

    The tech web is probably my favorites system, I have always been a large science player.. The web and technologies they have change everything. I find myself conflicted far more often than in civ, not to mention it can be very situation based. The affinity system is awesome, and I like how it mixes.

    Here is my wishlish for the G&K sized expansion that should be coming

    -More mixed affinity unit upgrades or units, more units for pure routes to compensate.
    additional Planet ecosystem types.
    -A couple more sponsors
    -A scenario with a sentient planet.
    -A few more wonders    … Expand
  2. RocKeR999
    Mar 12, 2015
    9
    I am new on Civilization so when I read all the comments about playing Civilization V and forget about Civilization Beyond Earth, that's what I did.
    I had a really great time playing Civilization V. However I wanted to try this one too, now I cannot stop playing Beyond Earth.
    Beyond Earth has improved a lot of little features that the previous version had and I considered to be flaws,    I am new on Civilization so when I read all the comments about playing Civilization V and forget about Civilization Beyond Earth, that's what I did.
    I had a really great time playing Civilization V. However I wanted to try this one too, now I cannot stop playing Beyond Earth.
    Beyond Earth has improved a lot of little features that the previous version had and I considered to be flaws, such as evolving all your units at the same time, and allowing you to choose how to focus your game play instead of one boring tech tree that everyone must follow.
    If Civilization V became so popular after so many expansions, I can just imagine how great Civilization Beyond Earth will be in the future after a couple of expansions.    … Expand
  3. zombiechan
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    Really enjoyable game and I think a decent mix of Alpha Centauri and Civ 5. I actually do enjoy some of the new mechanics and the new scene for a Civ game. The affinity system is a nice feature and adds a new conflict with you and other factions.

    The aliens are interesting, so I feel the AI is a tad dumb. But I do enjoy that there's a creature called a Siege Worm and if you sent some    Really enjoyable game and I think a decent mix of Alpha Centauri and Civ 5. I actually do enjoy some of the new mechanics and the new scene for a Civ game. The affinity system is a nice feature and adds a new conflict with you and other factions.

    The aliens are interesting, so I feel the AI is a tad dumb. But I do enjoy that there's a creature called a Siege Worm and if you sent some low level soldiers at it, they're going to die.

    I think the biggest issues I have with the game is the AI and placing the satellite seem poorly thought out.    … Expand
  4. REKT
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    A great addition to the civ games.

    Different enough from civ 5 to be a new game but similar enough that you can pick it up fairly quickly. Genuinely don't get all the hate. Aliens behave very different o barbarians, affinities basically turn 8 factions into 21, tech web is great, orbital layer is fun. You WILL have to play differently to how you have been playing civ 5 to win this    A great addition to the civ games.

    Different enough from civ 5 to be a new game but similar enough that you can pick it up fairly quickly.

    Genuinely don't get all the hate. Aliens behave very different o barbarians, affinities basically turn 8 factions into 21, tech web is great, orbital layer is fun. You WILL have to play differently to how you have been playing civ 5 to win this game, tried and tested strategies from the older civ games simply won't work with the aliens and affinities. I think this is a big plus.

    The is also room for DLC in places I can see expanding the game but not needing it. For example adding an extra affinity. I can't however find somewhere that content has been removed to allow for DLC like in civ 5. This is good.    … Expand
  5. Muro
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    Different enough from Civ 5 to not feel like an add-on, but still similar enough to make it feel familiar to Civ gamers. So with that in mind if you like Civ 5 you will probably like this, and if you don't then you probably won't.

    I won't list every change and the things I think are better or worse in this game but here are just a few. And I will be comparing this to both Civ 5 and    Different enough from Civ 5 to not feel like an add-on, but still similar enough to make it feel familiar to Civ gamers. So with that in mind if you like Civ 5 you will probably like this, and if you don't then you probably won't.

    I won't list every change and the things I think are better or worse in this game but here are just a few. And I will be comparing this to both Civ 5 and Alpha Centauri, you have been warned.

    Tech Web feels fun to explore. In Civ 5 by the end you had everything, all the techs fell in to place. In Beyond they don't. You have to make hard choices about what tech you want and what you don't. I feel this gave more flavour to my civilisation.

    Alien Life Forms are and aren't barbarians at the same time. In Civ 5 Barbarians were an aggressive annoyance, they turned up and tried to kidnap your workers and wreck your tile improvements. In Beyond the aliens are the dominant species, you are the aggressive annoyance turning up trying to steal the resources from their nests. And how you treat these native inhabitants determines if they decide to try and crush you out of existence.

    Units I felt were a bit weak in terms of their variety. I knew that I wasn't going to get an Alpha Centauri level of customising but I still feel more could have been done.

    Quests are enjoyable as they give some sense of your civilisation making decisions and shaping the way it wants to be. However sometimes I felt that these decisions came a little to often.

    Apart from that, Virtues are the new Social policies, Affinities are the new ideology, and the orbital layer works a bit like great people providing buffs to whole areas or temporary enhancements.

    Overall I am loving this game, it's not perfect, but I am sure I will once again sink hundreds of hours in to a Civilization game.    … Expand
  6. SherlockHolmess
    Feb 22, 2015
    9
    Wow i cant understand the many dislikes... sure it is no Alpha Centauri but first of all it's personal taste and second Alpha Centauri looks ugly.
    I don't compare this game to AC at all, i for myself started to become addicted aftr the very first round.
    The gaphics and soundscapes are beautiful. Trade routes, quests, outposts, aliens, make this game really exciting, the military battles    Wow i cant understand the many dislikes... sure it is no Alpha Centauri but first of all it's personal taste and second Alpha Centauri looks ugly.
    I don't compare this game to AC at all, i for myself started to become addicted aftr the very first round.
    The gaphics and soundscapes are beautiful. Trade routes, quests, outposts, aliens, make this game really exciting, the military battles are good thinked through but can be a bit annoying.
    The worms at the beginning have a very bad AI, and are very map dependent. But it happened only once that 3 worms attacked all cities of only me not the other player and the game was pretty much over for me then.
    Also the interface when leaving a city screen could be a bit faster, the "x" at the bottom is annoying.
    Also the tutorial is a bit sluggish und there's no campaign...

    But well these are just needles in the haystack. The game is great overall and you can spend lots of time with it. For me it's the best civilization at all, since i really enjoy the new setting on those planets and the graphics are so much more beautiful compared to it's predecessors.    … Expand
  7. wtfskilz
    Dec 5, 2014
    9
    okay I really have to make a comment because after reading some of these comments although they made me laugh until my sides hurt, they are doing this game an injustice.
    Like warhorse complaining how it takes mid game or end game to kill an alien siege worm, dude your so wrong you can do it on I think it was turn 20-30, as long as your two squares away with a ranged char you can hit it    okay I really have to make a comment because after reading some of these comments although they made me laugh until my sides hurt, they are doing this game an injustice.
    Like warhorse complaining how it takes mid game or end game to kill an alien siege worm, dude your so wrong you can do it on I think it was turn 20-30, as long as your two squares away with a ranged char you can hit it over and over until it's dead and get your quest reward..
    Miasma benefits aliens not good for humans. you can easily clean it up in early to mid game all around your cities with orbital launches. the additional aspect adds a strategy on your movements. is it worth it to go straight through? I will loose 20HP on this path! the other path will take 2 more turns!
    Movements in the sea are very strategic as well, you will find yourself mostly in shallow water avoiding the Alien Krakens I found my self following trade routes or units I cared less about to test the route before going into the deep ocean and many other times I just went the long way, there defiantly is a Huge risk Huge reward factor that you can find in this game compared to the last.
    This game also has no lack of options, your options have options. I love the added special ops, it's another fun Variable that makes it feel like your really running a real country. For example I took out a minor power, most of the superpowers started to despise me and like 3 turns later there were covert spies in 3 of my major cities, I had to take my agent and get him working on Homeland security because of the unpopular political mistake I had made.
    The game performance is excellent even if you only have and AMD CPU/GPU you can play at max graphics and Vertical SYNC, when the map is full of stuff and DX11 has issues hitting above 40FPS I switch the API to Mantle and I'm back to 60FPS    … Expand
  8. HyperDuck
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    It's pretty similar to Civ V, of course this is up to the individual whether they like it or not. Personally I love Civ BE, they changed enough in the game to make it feel familiar but at the same time different. I was wearing about buying this game due to the circle-jerk about it being too much of a Civ 5 clone. But after actually playing myself and developing my own opinion I have comeIt's pretty similar to Civ V, of course this is up to the individual whether they like it or not. Personally I love Civ BE, they changed enough in the game to make it feel familiar but at the same time different. I was wearing about buying this game due to the circle-jerk about it being too much of a Civ 5 clone. But after actually playing myself and developing my own opinion I have come to the conclusion that this game is actually pretty damn great.

    I give it an 8.5 out of 10. (Rounded up to 9 since you can't do half scores on Metacritic)    … Expand
  9. Tikvaw
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    Very nicely done. Not as good as Alpha Centauri, especially concerning lore and faction philosophy.
    But overall nice game, worth the price and I'm pretty sure it will receive a lot of improvements over time.
  10. BigDegs29
    Feb 10, 2015
    9
    This is basically Civilization V with some improvements, and some drawbacks.

    Improvements: -Trades barbarians for more versatile aliens. -Trade routes are improved (but needs a mod to remove the annoyance factor). -Very much prefer the skill web to the old tree. -Very much prefer the virtue system to the social policy trees. -Spying is actually useful. -Affinities add a dimension    This is basically Civilization V with some improvements, and some drawbacks.

    Improvements:
    -Trades barbarians for more versatile aliens.
    -Trade routes are improved (but needs a mod to remove the annoyance factor).
    -Very much prefer the skill web to the old tree.
    -Very much prefer the virtue system to the social policy trees.
    -Spying is actually useful.
    -Affinities add a dimension to gameplay.

    Drawbacks:
    -Few civilizations (er, sponsors) to choose from; DLC anyone?
    -Sponsor perks seem unbalanced to me.
    -You'd think they'd incorporate some of the great mods from CIV:V, but no.
    -Similar enough to CIV:V that fatigue settles in a little too quickly.

    I'm giving it a 9/10 because that's what I would give CIV:V. Because it's basically on the same level. I don't give penalties for not fixing what aint broke.    … Expand
  11. dyspeptic
    Oct 27, 2014
    8
    Last Played: Oct 2014

    PROS: + Espionage is completely reworked + Better units accessed through an "affinity" rather than tech system + Ranged units remain important throughout the game + Visual style is quite nice + Tech web allows you to ignore certain techs CONS: - Diplo is still weak, featuring only the inclusion of "favors" for when the AI demands something for nothing - Only one    Last Played: Oct 2014

    PROS: + Espionage is completely reworked + Better units accessed through an "affinity" rather than tech system + Ranged units remain important throughout the game + Visual style is quite nice + Tech web allows you to ignore certain techs

    CONS: - Diplo is still weak, featuring only the inclusion of "favors" for when the AI demands something for nothing - Only one navy and one air unit? Come on! - Only the might and growth virtue/policies seem worthwhile

    Review: I admire the risks taken with this game, and I see a lot of things that I like, as well as things that need refining, and things that should have changed, but didn't. Espionage is much better than before, having been completely reworked into a system where agents cannot access missions above the total "action limit" in the city, which increases as successful missions occur, decreasing when your enemy places an agent in the same city. Another positive change is the way higher-tier units are accessed-through the non-essential "leaves" which grant "affinity" points in the tech web. You could achieve some goals without ever levelling your unit types. Annoyingly, however, the good promotions of the past are ditched in favor of a flat 10% bonus every time the unit levels--the good promotions are now embodied by a choice which affects all units of that type on level up. One thing that was greatly improved, however was the continuing significance of ranged units (which no one built past crossbows unless they had the "improved range" perk). This is critical in SMBE because there are fewer unit types and only three factions--you need all the unit diversification you can get. EDIT: There are also unique affinity units which are unlocked at higher affinities (7+) though they are pretty much all land units.

    Other changes include the nice visual style (even the harshest critics acknowledge it looks different) and the ability to totally ignore techs in the web--I think it would be difficult to finish with every tech like one could before.

    There are some serious issues, however. The AI still regularly demands trade deals (even when they have poor relations and will reject the deal they suggested) and offers only "favors" (although I guess offering anything in return is a new feature). Furthermore, the "warmonger" feature is broken--I destroyed one outpost (not a city) and for the rest of the game I was a warmonger to every other player, leading to several 100+ turn cold wars. Speaking of annoying enemy factions, Franco-Iberia seems a bit broken, as they tend to interrupt every turn with a hate message. Wonders are accessed through tech, so it isn't clear why this should be, but it is.

    Further weaknesses include the further diminished air and navy (if I see these in an expansion I am going to be extremely mad--this better have been an accidental oversight and not a money-maker); and the unbalanced virtues (only might and growth get points when I play, health is poorly addressed by other trees).

    Basically, there are good and bad things about the game. I like it overall and I will keep playing it (hence the positive score), but Firaxis needs to patch up some holes (including missing/absurdly long unit animations and unit image superposition in the "specialize unit view" window) if they want more than just fans to like the game.    … Expand
  12. BlitzStein
    Jan 15, 2015
    8
    They accomplished the promise of a linux version. This is a good game. A little deceiving coming from the Civ saga, but we hope they will add space and other things on future expansions.
  13. henzu
    Oct 25, 2014
    9
    First of all, this IS a basically CiV 5 in another planet. And no, this is not a re-skin or DLC. There is alot of differences and alot that had stay the same. Which is why there is alot of whining(including here). Most just contradictory them self's or other ppl that didn't like the game. I would say the change isn't as much as Civ 4 to Civ 5, but most of the change I like. Also I findFirst of all, this IS a basically CiV 5 in another planet. And no, this is not a re-skin or DLC. There is alot of differences and alot that had stay the same. Which is why there is alot of whining(including here). Most just contradictory them self's or other ppl that didn't like the game. I would say the change isn't as much as Civ 4 to Civ 5, but most of the change I like. Also I find alot of stuff that ppl are whining about, are just because they are too lazy to use tutorial and read manual...
    The bad stuff first:
    1. Planet customization are limited, which is a odd design choice.
    2. The Leaders seem lack of personality, which is actually not odd, because we all know those leaders "normal" civilization" from history books. But I do find most of these leaders are not so aggressive(if your army is weak in CiV5 even the pacifist will attack you).
    3) UI need more work, it not as clear as CiV5. Also some

    The good:
    1.Aliens. They are not just re-skin Barbarian. They make the start of the game feel totally different then CiV. Best new idea!
    2.The new Science web. Finally there are more then just 2-3way(CiV1-5) to moving forward in science.
    3.Health. A good balancing idea to force player not to build a huge "settlers" army at start.    … Expand
  14. deadlockedworld
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    Summary: It's really more like Civ 5 and a half. (but I rate Civ 5 a 10)

    I'm only a few hours in, but so far it's really not very different from Civ 5. It feels like they reskinned it, added some new graphics, and a few new ideas. *The interface is ulta-modern, and a little more clunky and difficult to use than Civ 5. *The diplomacy is exactly like Civ 5 except the leaders are less    Summary: It's really more like Civ 5 and a half. (but I rate Civ 5 a 10)

    I'm only a few hours in, but so far it's really not very different from Civ 5. It feels like they reskinned it, added some new graphics, and a few new ideas.
    *The interface is ulta-modern, and a little more clunky and difficult to use than Civ 5.
    *The diplomacy is exactly like Civ 5 except the leaders are less interesting.
    *City states are the same. Barbarians are now aliens.
    *Only thing that is really new is the culture/specialization options. They are interesting and will take some time to explore.

    Verdict:
    If you are a die-hard fan go ahead and buy it. If you have put less than a couple hundred hours into Civ you should wait for the first expansion pack.

    Other:
    These future humans are f-ing boring. The special moments in Civ V are when you get nuked by Ghandi, or slapped in the face by Catherine the Great-- that doesnt work with these bland future leaders.

    Please make the first expansion pack have REAL ALIENS.
    Isn't that the entire point of space civilization? (Want to make this different and better? Include a Cylon/Borg/Zerg invasion mode in the expansion pack -- last person to be overrun/assimilated wins. That would make this fun and a lot different from Civ V.)    … Expand
  15. jakebenntt
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    Aliens, EPIC. Expeditions, EPIC. Tech web, EPIC. Only problem with it is the repetitive quest system. Otherwise, could call it a civ 5 remake, WITH TONS MORE CONTENT AND A MUCH BETTER, NOT CIV 5 SYSTEM!
  16. Tick
    Nov 30, 2014
    9
    I give this game a 9/10. I do this after reading all the reviews, and I disagree with them and will say why.

    Why I disagree: People wanted an entirely different game? Like Alpha Centuari was to Civilization? Everyone I know hated Alpha Centuari. It differentiated itself from Civ too much, and over-all was meh. Then when they make a extra-planetary Civ and keep many of the mechanics    I give this game a 9/10. I do this after reading all the reviews, and I disagree with them and will say why.

    Why I disagree: People wanted an entirely different game? Like Alpha Centuari was to Civilization? Everyone I know hated Alpha Centuari. It differentiated itself from Civ too much, and over-all was meh.

    Then when they make a extra-planetary Civ and keep many of the mechanics that worked VERY well people complain... Can't make people happy I guess.

    Review:

    Graphics: I'm happy with them. I like them. They are an improvement over Civ V, and keep graphics that work well. Now on some planets It can be a bit tough to differentiate Tundra and plains at a glance, but it's an alien world and the terrain, flora and fauna are different than that of earth. It just makes sense.

    Sound: Again, I like the sound. It's a slight improvement over Civ V. Less traditional music but that's the case, it's the future and you left tradition behind.

    Game Mechanics: (the big part)

    1) Cities. LOVE THEM. Build buildings, then get a choice of customization on their function/abilities through a choice. Perfect! I can play differently, plan out what I want to. The Unit customization based on what you do and how you do it is great. I can make an army designed to kill other units or attack cities, heal quickly etc.

    I like the new espionage functions. It's an improvement over Civ V's. The Level gain is also better, and if you're in the lead there is actually something your Spies can do. Especially since Technology isn't linear anymore, it's a web.

    The Tech Web: Love it. Linear tech isn't realistic the future, decisions, Values, Philosophy, Play-style all should and can play a part in how you advance. Once I got used to it, I say it's the best part of the game.

    Diplomacy: Meh. It's the same as Civ V except you can trade with people who have nothing to give to you with "favours" I can trade Titanium I'm not using and don't plan on using for a while to Civ's that may or may not need it for Favours. I can effectively bank them for later. I do like this. In Civ games I usually ignore diplomacy, not because It's a bad feature, but because I could care less about my opponents. I play to crush them not work with them. For my play-styles I just wish some of the phrases the AI used in the screen were more varied and different than Civ V when I refuse 100% of the time to aid them in war, and I always refuse all requests to stop settling near them etc.

    I'm sure there are people who play civ, and by the comments I can see it, that like diplomacy... I find that it's the same as liking the garnish in a 6 course meal. I don't play to interact diplomatically with AI's. I toss them and their wants/needs aside.

    War, movement, is all the same as CIv V but with the added unit complexity. And I like this. Resources are a little hard to figure out at first. I know what Wheat does, but what about Chitin? Or Fibre? all it takes is a few games to get this as 2nd nature. A

    Alien Life: They could have done a bit better job of taking advantage of this, and it's why this game gets a 9 and not a 10. You can kill the roaming aliens but still 'preserve' Life on the planet and that makes sense. Some life is hostile, you deal with it, and the rest isn't. As tech advances I'd have liked to see alien life not interrupt your use of a tile for resources, or even try to attack you, and they get small (graphic wise) and become part of the background animations. Or you can keep killing them.

    I like the ideology of Purity, supremacy and harmony. I also like how virtues replace several key racial bonuses or wonder bonuses of Civ V that were mandatory and you needed to RUSH to have a given play-style.

    Wonders: they are there, just a tad hidden, and when you look for them on the tech tree you're uncertain if it is or not until you figure it out and just remember it. They also could have done a bit more art-work on the wonders graphics... they are all whiteboxed...

    Overall this is a great game. Some SIMPLE fixes they should put in and then this game is a 10/10.    … Expand
  17. polter15
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    I've got 500 hours of civ 5 and I think this game is the perfect sequel. It's the sequence of one of the endings of civ 5. For me, who simply adores sci fi is the game I've been waiting for so long. If you like civ 5 and sci fi this game is for you!
  18. Selek
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    Really enjoying it. Lots of new stuff here: Affinities, tech web, a cool system that requires scouts to excavate and then return to base (not auto-wander), new trade route system, revamped social policies, quests, satellites, interesting victory conditions. It's not perfect -- I wish there were some sort of Culture victory, and I'm still not a huge fan of the social policy thing -- butReally enjoying it. Lots of new stuff here: Affinities, tech web, a cool system that requires scouts to excavate and then return to base (not auto-wander), new trade route system, revamped social policies, quests, satellites, interesting victory conditions. It's not perfect -- I wish there were some sort of Culture victory, and I'm still not a huge fan of the social policy thing -- but it's much more compelling than I expected.… Expand
  19. asuratyr
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    Seriously...everyone keeps **** about this game with it being "a reskinned civ V" and so on.......i sort of expected this tho. For me this game is a fun throwback at civ V with just enough new features to keep it interesting.

    What is good, doesn't need to be replaced.
  20. Kaspar
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    A great game in the Civ series, feels like Civ V but has enough new content and mechanics to stand by itself.

    It has both more and less re-playability than Civ V, the quest system makes every game different, but the limited choices in virtues, affinities and Civilizations can make each new game a bit too familiar. But it offers some new and interesting things, and future DLCs and    A great game in the Civ series, feels like Civ V but has enough new content and mechanics to stand by itself.

    It has both more and less re-playability than Civ V, the quest system makes every game different, but the limited choices in virtues, affinities and Civilizations can make each new game a bit too familiar.

    But it offers some new and interesting things, and future DLCs and patches hopefully will add more variety to an already very good game.    … Expand
  21. gatheck
    Nov 15, 2014
    9
    It's not Civilization V and it's not Alpha Centauri, when you realize that you'll love this game :) But first you have to play several games, not turns! And I'm sure that this game will become better and better.
  22. secludedsfx
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    This game sticks to most of the great features of Civ V that we've come to know and love but shakes it up in an interesting way which makes the game feel fresh.

    If you've ever been interested in a game where the Civilization franchise is set in space then this is for you.
  23. Flawl3s
    Oct 26, 2014
    8
    No, Beyond Earth is not just a reskin of Civ 5, sure it's not the spiritual successor to Alpha Centauri, that we all hoped it would be, but it is solid, as much interesting, addictive Sid Meier's title. And we all should remember that Firaxis is known for fixing their games with expansion packs. (just as they did with Civ 5)
    It is a very solid title, which will just get better as time    No, Beyond Earth is not just a reskin of Civ 5, sure it's not the spiritual successor to Alpha Centauri, that we all hoped it would be, but it is solid, as much interesting, addictive Sid Meier's title. And we all should remember that Firaxis is known for fixing their games with expansion packs. (just as they did with Civ 5)
    It is a very solid title, which will just get better as time goes on, buy it now if you are a Civ fan, or just strategy fan in general, otherwise wait for some sales or expansions.    … Expand
  24. ghandimcfarland
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    I am loving every minute of Civilization: Beyond Earth! Honestly, it changes just enough to give a fresh experience while still remaining true to the series. The art and music are atmospheric and wonderful and the writing is superb! (I've spent hours browsing the Civilpedia. Reading about every tech you research and thing you build really fleshes out the narrative which draws influenceI am loving every minute of Civilization: Beyond Earth! Honestly, it changes just enough to give a fresh experience while still remaining true to the series. The art and music are atmospheric and wonderful and the writing is superb! (I've spent hours browsing the Civilpedia. Reading about every tech you research and thing you build really fleshes out the narrative which draws influence from both popular and classic sci-fi; Everything from Asimov and Dune to Battlestar Galactica.)
    On the gameplay front, after 2 full games I would wager that Civ:BE is already more balanced than Civ:BNW and knowing Firaxis we can expect plenty of patches to fine tune and improve everything. Wonders aren't as important and neither are the City State equivalents which are welcome changes. The affinity system is not only intriguing, but also removes a lot of the tedium from maintaining the military.
    On launch day I've noticed a few minor bugs but again, Firaxis is known for fixing their games post-launch. With how complex Civ:BE is, I'm actually surprised it works so well. I could see people being a bit overwhelmed at the new "tech web" but take heart; It comes some handy filters and quickly becomes second nature and the non-linear progression gives players a lot of freedom to develop their own strategies and customize their Civilization.
    Ultimately, Civilization has always been much more than a strategy game. It has always told a story and Civ:BE successfully shifts genres from History to Sci-fi while still keeping the exciting and optimistic flavor that is and will always be Civ. It is addicting, intelligent and beautiful.    … Expand
  25. Theryan4476
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    This game is a great even though it may look like a Civilization V remake it carries a ton more replay-ability with the new tech-web. Also the units can be upgraded throughout a play-through. Also the whole so-if atmosphere is amazing, it's a nice change of pace since most of their games are history based.
  26. Vetinari34
    Oct 26, 2014
    9
    The people that have rated the game low appear to have rated it low largely because it reuses the gameplay of Civilization 5. Alpha Centauri is one of the greatest games of all time, but its basic gameplay is terrible in comparison to that of Beyond Earth. Over time, Firaxis has molded and polished the civilization experience into the well oiled machine that can be found in this game.The people that have rated the game low appear to have rated it low largely because it reuses the gameplay of Civilization 5. Alpha Centauri is one of the greatest games of all time, but its basic gameplay is terrible in comparison to that of Beyond Earth. Over time, Firaxis has molded and polished the civilization experience into the well oiled machine that can be found in this game. With the freedom of the tech web, affinities, and virtues, every game played is going to be a completely different experience.

    What is lacking that I miss from Alpha Centauri is the voice acting and the wonder videos. While The voice actors for Beyond Earth are great, only one is used to voice the quotes for all of the technologies, affinities, and wonders. In Alpha Centauri, each voice actor voiced their own character's quotes for everything, and it made you really love and care about each character, and the people they were leading. Also, that each wonder had its own cgi video just added to the immersion of the game. I really miss that level of captivation that Alpha Centauri brought to the table. Also, mind worm boils were far more frightening a concept to me than siege worms ever will be. ;)

    This game truly is a culmination of Firaxis' experiences with turned-based strategy. It really brings together the best gameplay aspects of all its predecessors, and adds a few more wonderfully freeing tools. I have over 400 hours logged in Civ V, and I plan to have much more than that logged in Beyond Earth. I cannot wait to see how the DLC will shape this already polished gem.    … Expand
  27. betts_corey
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    Gamers seem to be baby's who want everything tailor fit to their very specific desires and if they are disappointed in one area, the game sucks, and the developer became's vilified as money grabbers. This is a pretty good game. There are some features I wish were added in, but they weren't there. Instead of berating the thing like a miserable selfish brat, I'll say there are a lot of goodGamers seem to be baby's who want everything tailor fit to their very specific desires and if they are disappointed in one area, the game sucks, and the developer became's vilified as money grabbers. This is a pretty good game. There are some features I wish were added in, but they weren't there. Instead of berating the thing like a miserable selfish brat, I'll say there are a lot of good qualities that make this game enjoyable. One of the more exciting civ games I've played, but there is room for new features. Will you enjoy it? Probably. Will it get better with time? Definitely.… Expand
  28. Zirconiumfist
    Oct 26, 2014
    8
    Is it a revolutionary new take on the classic Civilization series? No. However it presents enough new features and ideas to make it well worth your time and money. I love the Affinity upgrade system, it allows each game to feel different despite the relatively small number of "Civilizations" (sponsors). True the diplomatic interactions are much the same, and the voice over for the leadersIs it a revolutionary new take on the classic Civilization series? No. However it presents enough new features and ideas to make it well worth your time and money. I love the Affinity upgrade system, it allows each game to feel different despite the relatively small number of "Civilizations" (sponsors). True the diplomatic interactions are much the same, and the voice over for the leaders is a bit limited and repetitive, (though I like how their appearance changes as they become more strongly aligned with an affinity) but the covert-ops has been simplified and offers a variety of exciting operations (like summoning alien siege worms). I like the non-linear tech web, it allows you to reach "ultimate" techs and units much faster than in previous Civ games, but the five possible victories still take a few hundred turns to achieve. So far I've only completed two games and my biggest disappointment is the victory screen. No stats, no world overview, no ranking,just "you win" and it exits to the main menu. I feel like a mod will cover this in the near future, but I don't understand why Firaxis would omit that feature. Overall, a great turn based strategy that largely improves the solid Civ 5 base mechanics but still has room to improve. I can only hope that future DLCs and patches will actually atone for the silly mistakes and questionable design choices.… Expand
  29. flametail
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    Yes, It is like Civ 5, but this one seems more refined, possibly the reasons for almost having the same engine is to make it familiar; for civilization veterans.
  30. mazz0
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    The aesthetic style takes a little getting used to, but having played /almost/ one full playthrough I already prefer this game to Civ V. It's invokes that feeling of "must get that area of land there" that Civ V lacked for me.
  31. AkVr
    Nov 4, 2014
    9
    I must say i misjudged this game when i first played.Then i gave it a few tries.I dont know why it is so easy to get the wrong impression about it but if you play a while you will realize that it is a good game.Maybe the A.I needs some polishing and the Leaders.Diplomacy is not interesting at all,But i am sure Firaxis is already working to fix a few things with an expansion and add some more.
  32. Ysguy
    Oct 25, 2014
    8
    I am a long time Civ fan; All the way back to Civ 2. I have played this game for enough hours now and I like it. Is this game a mind blower like Civ 5 when it first came out? No. It has huge shoes to fill. This Civ feels strange or alien to play and it should. It’s hard to conceptually understand that a "xeno" resource is like iron. The stubborn mind wants to label the new units andI am a long time Civ fan; All the way back to Civ 2. I have played this game for enough hours now and I like it. Is this game a mind blower like Civ 5 when it first came out? No. It has huge shoes to fill. This Civ feels strange or alien to play and it should. It’s hard to conceptually understand that a "xeno" resource is like iron. The stubborn mind wants to label the new units and resources with something familiar; but don't you are only taking away from the experience. This game makes sense. Your advanced race arriving on another planet should already know how to build roads etc. Therefore, the game takes early development in a different direction.

    In many ways Civ Beyond Earth seems to have less depth and this is where much of the disappointment around this game comes from. The other Civs gave leaders character and back story, and wonders made sense. But is this depth even appropriate in a sci-fi 4X game? Do I really care about a made up history about a made up futuristic wonder that does something I can’t even relate to? Admittedly I would have loved to have seen more depth to the story, but I can understand how Fraxis may have felt it would have been cheesy. You can however, see a lot of the creative energy in the creation of an alien world, tech tree, units etc. Its hard to relate to a Sci-fi setting. Systems like the faith system and policy system that were very successful in Civ 5 don't translate as well to a futuristic setting. It’s hard to envision where the current faiths or political parties seen today will go. Do they exist in the future? Are they even a factor when first settling a new planet? Other systems like the orbital or spy systems I feel are even better in this rendition of Civ.

    Ultimately I think a 4X fan will like Civ beyond earth. It is not so much a step forward in the series as it is a step in a different direction. I was confused, scared, and angry at first. However once I started roaming across the new planets and stomping bug carapaces I started to enjoy myself. Be open minded, and you will easily find another 100+hours to dump into this game.    … Expand
  33. BarryEvans
    Oct 25, 2014
    8
    Beyond Earth picks up where Civ 5 left off - quite literally. If you watched any of the developer videos and interviews you will know that they were adamant that this game was not going to be a remake of Alpha Centuri. Instead, you get what feels like a heavily modded version of Civ 5.
    The hexagon squares are still there and the game still plays the same as Civ 5 did. Some of the bugs    Beyond Earth picks up where Civ 5 left off - quite literally. If you watched any of the developer videos and interviews you will know that they were adamant that this game was not going to be a remake of Alpha Centuri. Instead, you get what feels like a heavily modded version of Civ 5.
    The hexagon squares are still there and the game still plays the same as Civ 5 did. Some of the bugs from Civ 5 have even made it into this game, such as the "constant scroll lock" that happens if you press the arrow keys when you end your turn.
    Choosing a faction is currently limited (I think there are 6 to choose from), but I think we can see new factions added in expansion packs.
    The tech tree is a nice new addition, which I happen to like. You research different tech's depending on the victory you wish to work towards. This adds to the re-playability aspect of the game - each game will be different depending on the tech's that you choose to research and also how you choose to interact with the planet.
    Units are the same no matter which victory condition you choose. The stats are the same for each unit, so if you are playing multiplayer, it comes down to how well you use the terrain to your advantage. I would have like to see different skins for the units though, but again, this may come later with expansions.
    For now, I am giving this game an 8. I can see the potential, but I think patches and expansions are needed to push the boundaries further away from Civ 5, because at the moment it feels too familiar. This was probably done on purpose to ween people off Civ 5 slowly, but I think they got the balance between learning curve and different feeling game a bit wrong.
    If you like Civ 5, you will like this game. Expansions will only raise it from the 8 that I gave - ignore the people who gave it less than a 5, they obviously played for 30 mins before racing onto this site to be come one of the first reviewers.    … Expand
  34. Mr_Fitch
    Oct 29, 2014
    8
    Usually when you see a critic score higher than a user score, you have to ask around your peers to fully understand what it is that made so many people score so negatively for this game. After a lot of poking and prodding for opinions that really shouldn't carry much weight when looking to buy a game anyway, I found that most people who scored low...were just people who lacked patience andUsually when you see a critic score higher than a user score, you have to ask around your peers to fully understand what it is that made so many people score so negatively for this game. After a lot of poking and prodding for opinions that really shouldn't carry much weight when looking to buy a game anyway, I found that most people who scored low...were just people who lacked patience and were frustrated individuals who didn't like that the game was too hard for them, basically.

    There were SOME people i asked who just plain didn't like the execution of the game and felt it lacked passion. I can agree there. The game DOES feel like it is missing a lot but whenever any game does that you know an expansion is just around the corner to relieve you of even more energy, sorry, money. And yes, certain things are the same like health is happiness etc, but you are playing a civilization game...remember? Things that attracted you to play civilization 5 HAVE to in some way share resemblance in this new installment to entice you back. So, whining and moaning about something you previously loved is just arbitrary. At times this game feels like it borrows too much from civ 5 to warrant a $50 price tag, but other times it feels completely new and untold in the way the game is built. This game has been patiently waited for, for years. It was bound to let a lot of people down when the hype is built up over such a long period.

    But the bottom line is this game is great and it's new and there are new terms to learn and different resources to remember, but apparently that's just too strenuous for most people.    … Expand
  35. JiminyJickers
    Oct 25, 2014
    8
    Great start of a new franchise. Beyond Earth is an addictive addition to the Civilization universe. There are many new features that makes this game so much more than just and expansion pack to Civ V. I can't for expansions to come out to flesh out the game even more.

    The AI is providing a good challenge and there is a lot of variety in the current factions, even though it doesn't    Great start of a new franchise. Beyond Earth is an addictive addition to the Civilization universe. There are many new features that makes this game so much more than just and expansion pack to Civ V. I can't for expansions to come out to flesh out the game even more.

    The AI is providing a good challenge and there is a lot of variety in the current factions, even though it doesn't appear so at the start. Once you are into the swing of the game, there are many decisions to make to shape your faction and evolve your people.

    Highly recommended.

    There are a few minor bugs but nothing major. The biggest complaint is that there needs to be more factions and options for planet generation. Some of the info screens don't have enough information. For example, I can't find a way to tell which factions are at war with other ones in the diplomacy screen. This has caused me to go to war with neighbours by forming an alliance with their enemies without knowing it.

    A solid entry and I will definitely be picking up the inevitable expansions when they come out.    … Expand
  36. tronster
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    New tech web, affinity system, quests, unit upgrade trees, covert ops, virtues tree, and the classic addictive civ game play, but now in space! Time to play until "one more turn" becomes 4am in the morning. (Bonus: Great community, MODs already appearing less than 24 hours after release.)
  37. Thalassicus
    Oct 28, 2014
    9
    I've played every Civilization game, and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri was one of my favorite games of all time. Beyond Earth is very different and incredibly fun. I've completed two playthroughs so far, and I feel it captures the inspiring science-fiction feeling of SMAC, while adding modern gameplay and aesthetic features.

    The game also appeals to people who don't play many strategy    I've played every Civilization game, and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri was one of my favorite games of all time. Beyond Earth is very different and incredibly fun. I've completed two playthroughs so far, and I feel it captures the inspiring science-fiction feeling of SMAC, while adding modern gameplay and aesthetic features.

    The game also appeals to people who don't play many strategy games. My best friend never played any Civilization before Civ 5, played it briefly, then was absolutely blown away the fun of Beyond Earth. She's hooked! Even my brother is addicted, and both of them are mainly action/shooter gamers.

    Beyond Earth brings brings an open-world roleplaying feel to the series. There's many more choices than previous Civ titles, which I suspect will provide an incredible level of replayability long into the future. You can play each game in totally different ways.

    I haven't encountered any crashes or problems in my co-op game with a friend, unlike a lot of other titles full of bugs on release. It just WORKS! (I'm looking at you, SimCity. Grrr.)

    9/10 Gameplay - The affinities, tech web, and quests make BE more open and fun than Civ 5.
    10/10 Visuals - The Firaxis art team does a fantastic job with every game they make.
    10/10 Sound - The music has a wonderfully epic scifi feel, more inspiring than SMAC or Civ.
    5/10 Story - I wish there was more character development and dialogue for the main leaders.
    7/10 AI - All civilization games have mediocre AI, a problem in most of the game industry.
    9/10 Overall - I'm enjoying this game as much as I did Civ 5.

    Keep in mind most people happy with the game will be too busy playing it to come here and write reviews. :)

    - Comparisons

    Beyond Earth is better than Alpha Centauri in these ways:
    - Factions are not forced into one playstyle, set of civil policies, or unit design. I felt there were "best options" I always had to pick in SMAC. There's so much freedom in Beyond Earth.
    - Amazing music and opening cinematic really set the epic scifi mood.
    - The trade system is vastly more fun than similar attempts at trade in Civ 1-4 or SMAC.
    - More interesting city expansion and development than SMAC's city spam.
    - One unit per tile is more tactically complex than moving units in a big stack.
    - Open-ended tech web gives lots of research freedom.
    - Interesting unit upgrade choices. SMAC's unit workshop was cool in theory, but in reality there were just a few good ways to design units.
    - I love the minimalist interface. It has a sleek scifi look with less clutter than previous Civ games.

    It's better than Civ 5 in these ways:
    - Open-ended tech web.
    - Immersive roleplaying experience.
    - Early game focuses on exploration before expansion.
    - Moral choices for affinities, colony seeding, and quests.
    - Choosing abilities to instantly upgrade your whole army.
    - Bigger focus on the trade system.
    - Energy and air units available right away, providing more economic & military options.    … Expand
  38. MrTim165
    Oct 25, 2014
    9
    I personally think Firaxis has done a great job with this Civilization game. The new (and old) system really make it something more than Civ V was, or to me at least. I also really dig the futuristic aesthetic, I love how you're now building an alternate future instead of an alt history.

    On itself, it's a phenomenal game. Great 4X with some really interesting systems. But since it's    I personally think Firaxis has done a great job with this Civilization game. The new (and old) system really make it something more than Civ V was, or to me at least. I also really dig the futuristic aesthetic, I love how you're now building an alternate future instead of an alt history.

    On itself, it's a phenomenal game. Great 4X with some really interesting systems. But since it's another game in the long lineup of other civ games, we're gonna have to compare it to Civ V. Whether or not it's better than Civ V is debatable. They're very similar but slightly different. Some may think Civ V was better, others may think Beyond Earth is better. You're gonna have to look for yourself to see if you like it or not. I personally love it!    … Expand
  39. Kikaz56
    Oct 24, 2014
    8
    Great new Civ game. Lots of fun. Fairly difficult which is a nice change. Still room to improve though. With some minor changes I could easily give this a ten.For now it's a solid 8/10.
  40. MisterBurkes
    Oct 29, 2014
    9
    One of my favorite CIv titles to date (fav being Alpha Centauri, CIv 3 PTW, Civ 4 BTS). Most fun I've had playing civ multiplayer in years. I've logged about 50 hours in multiplayer. This is far better and more fun that VANILLA Civ 5 at launch.

    Too many people are complaining about this being a simple reskin of Civ 5 - well let me say this: there are SIGNIFICANT changes to gameplay    One of my favorite CIv titles to date (fav being Alpha Centauri, CIv 3 PTW, Civ 4 BTS). Most fun I've had playing civ multiplayer in years. I've logged about 50 hours in multiplayer. This is far better and more fun that VANILLA Civ 5 at launch.

    Too many people are complaining about this being a simple reskin of Civ 5 - well let me say this: there are SIGNIFICANT changes to gameplay mechanics that are enough to make the gameplay experience very new. Here are some of them that I've found to be a great improvement over Civ 5:

    + The existence of aliens which serve as very strong barbarians help deter rapid expansion and promotes a healthier and tigher midgame rather than seeing one player or AI running away with the lead. Fall From Heaven 2 veterans (one of the best Civ mods of all time) will find aliens to still be too easy/lenient on the player but will enjoy the overall change.

    + City strength and hitpoints are much lower and require significant investment to improve. This makes warfare faster and keeps players in check from only rushing econ/tech.

    + The new affinity system: I absolutely love this system. Each of the three affinities in the game have their own distinct strengths and weaknesses, but are still comprehensive enough to not be blatantly overpowered or deficient in some aspect. For example, even though you might think Supremacy is all about warfare, they actually have quite strong research options (via harnessing of special firaxite buildings) as well as economy options (terraforming satellites to spawn new resources onto your tiles). Whereas Harmony, which at first glance seems to be non-miltiaristic, has the strongest melee unique units in the game, but are deficient in regards to ranged combats.

    + Revamped tech tree that is closely linked to the affinity system. The way it's setup actually promotes hybridization of affinities - which is intentional by design AFAIK since affinity unique units can utilize other affinities to upgrade.

    + The new victory conditions that are linked to the affinitiy system are thematic, flavorful, and well balanced for multiplayer. They all require placing a wonder onto an actual tile on the map which can be destroyed by other players and sets the stage for some truly awesome multiplayer battles.

    + Quest system that allows you to adapt your buildings to your current needs in a given game.

    + Overall atmosphere of the game is hearkens back to Alpha Centauri and the planet customization is superb.

    +++ Threaded rendering support

    There are a few gripes I do have with the game, but I believe these will be sorted out with patches or expansions in due time:

    - Trading requires too much micromanagement currently. You have to renew convoys/trade vessels after a certain period of turns, which is extremely tasking in the mid-late game when you have lots of cities and lots of trade routes.

    - Multiplayer netcode seems to be slightly improved over Civ 5, but still needs more work.

    - Contact Victory is too easy to achieve compared to the other victory conditions.

    - Only 8 "factions" on release = bare minimum to populate an 8 player map with unique civilizations. Fewest civs at release since the original Civilization.

    - I miss civilization specific unique units.

    - AI is quite poor at using anti-orbit strikes.

    - Miasma sometimes blends in too well with terrain features.

    - Weird texture glitches immediately following multiplayer resyncs.    … Expand
  41. Rahlekk
    Oct 24, 2014
    9
    A great continuation for the series; the saying "don't fix what isn't broken" applies very well here, as Beyond Earth takes what was amazing from Civilization V and applies it into a new world, or even, a new universe. Gone are barbarians in favor of interesting aliens, with worlds that are extremely lifelike. If you liked Civilization V or any before it, you will love Beyond Earth withoutA great continuation for the series; the saying "don't fix what isn't broken" applies very well here, as Beyond Earth takes what was amazing from Civilization V and applies it into a new world, or even, a new universe. Gone are barbarians in favor of interesting aliens, with worlds that are extremely lifelike. If you liked Civilization V or any before it, you will love Beyond Earth without a doubt. (I also think the user score for this game is quite lower than it deserves.)… Expand
  42. BlackJade
    Oct 25, 2014
    9
    I normally don't give a review on metacritic, this would be the first.
    As some of the user reviews here have claimed, Beyond Earth is not simply a Civ 5 reskinned. To do so would be unfair, as many sequels would fall into this category. In regards to the comparison to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, they have multiple times denied that it is a spiritual successor to it, even the name itself    I normally don't give a review on metacritic, this would be the first.
    As some of the user reviews here have claimed, Beyond Earth is not simply a Civ 5 reskinned. To do so would be unfair, as many sequels would fall into this category. In regards to the comparison to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, they have multiple times denied that it is a spiritual successor to it, even the name itself has Civilization in it. Henceforth, the game mechanism in this game bear more resemblance to Civ 5.

    First of all, as with all Firaxis game, during launch I was well prepared to play a game filled with bugs and glitches. Fortunately, this was not the case for me (there are couples of issues other ppl faced, you should check out the steam forums before buying), the game ran smoothly except for a couple of annoying bugs with came from the ingame tutorial/advisor that can be turned off.

    The affinity system which is a combination of ideology/religion/tech has been greatly implemented to the game and brings a new fresh air to a Civilization vet. It fits the premise very well. The affinity system comprises of 3 "ideology" : purity, harmony and supremacy.The progression towards these affinities come from tech upgrades (by researching new tech which has the affinity logo on it) or through quest. You can branch out to different affinity or focus just on one. However, the characteristics of your units, buildings and quest would change depending which affinity you choose to focus. In my opinion, this system is greatly superior to the ideology system implemented in Civ 5.

    As for the tech web, it can be quite confusing for new beginners and old civilization fans as well. It would take a few games to get used to it, afterwards, it shouldn't be a problem. It makes the game overall more complex and in-depth compared to the old linear research tree.

    As for the aliens, their behaviour isn't the same as the barbarians. There are a types of them, and they do react accordingly on how you have decided to treat them. If you are hostile to them, they would become increasingly aggressive towards you and they would choose to attack you if you get to close to their nest.

    Besides the game mechanistic I mentioned above, the diplomacy, trading and virtue (culture system) remains similar to Civ 5. In conclusion, I would whole heartedly recommend this game to anyone who love Civ 5, as in brings enough familiarity and difference to warrant a purchase. As for newcomers, I would say pick up Civ 5 first as this game can be a little daunting for newcomers in the series. Overall this is a fantastic game, I wouldn't be surprised if I spent more than 200 total hours in this game which makes the money spent worth it.    … Expand
  43. Miskin
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    Having spent more than 20,000 hours in Civ1, Col. Civ2, AC, Civ: CTP, Civ3, Civ4, Civ4: Col, Civ5, I still find Civ: BE interesting and good fun to play. The game world feels fresh and the art beautiful. I very much liked the changes to the tech tree, the affinities and the interactive environment, which acts almost like a faction.. I am sure, there is a lot of room for improvements,Having spent more than 20,000 hours in Civ1, Col. Civ2, AC, Civ: CTP, Civ3, Civ4, Civ4: Col, Civ5, I still find Civ: BE interesting and good fun to play. The game world feels fresh and the art beautiful. I very much liked the changes to the tech tree, the affinities and the interactive environment, which acts almost like a faction.. I am sure, there is a lot of room for improvements, which will come over time, as they did for Civ5.

    I have only 8h played, so what I write here is mostly my first impression. There are a couple of balance issues, and some minor bugs. Frankly, this game is in a much better state than Civ5 has been upon its release, which somehow got better reception from the fans. Therefore, I cannot understand, what is all this noise about. Saying this, yes, I have also tried Endless Legend, which I also liked very much. Overall I think CIV: BE is a superior product.

    I wholeheartedly recommend the game to all CIV and TBS fans. If I had to score I would have rated an 8.5/10. I give it a 10, as gesture of support to my all-time favourite game, because it's not rated fairly.    … Expand
  44. pyradius
    Nov 2, 2014
    8
    While I would agree with the criticisms regarding missing UI features, and the laborious nature of some tasks (navigating the tech web, managing trade routes) it has some streamlined gameplay and improvements over Civ 5.

    The mission system (while needing some polish) is a nice addition to the gameplay. The minor factions are mostly a nuisance and are very underwhelming compared to    While I would agree with the criticisms regarding missing UI features, and the laborious nature of some tasks (navigating the tech web, managing trade routes) it has some streamlined gameplay and improvements over Civ 5.

    The mission system (while needing some polish) is a nice addition to the gameplay. The minor factions are mostly a nuisance and are very underwhelming compared to city-states in Civ 5, although they may fit in a little bit more with the faster-paced gameplay in BE.

    The affinities and virtues are suitable replacements for culture and religion from Civ 5, but I don't really see how they can be fleshed out the way they were in Civ 5, meaning their upside potential is kinda limited in BE. Maybe they'll surprise me with an awesome expansion but I have my reservations.

    In short, I would recommend this to Civ 5 fans who want a bit more. I would not recommend it for newcomers and would direct them to the much more fleshed out experience available in Civ 5.    … Expand
  45. NCCrank
    Feb 16, 2015
    8
    I've owned and played every Civ game. When this was announced I was hoping for Alpha Centauri 2. And I was extremely disappointed with this game when viewed against the original AC.

    But, for whatever reason - I kept playing. And, something funny happened - I found a pretty enjoyable game once I accepted it for what it is vs. what I was hoping for. The game is not perfect. In some    I've owned and played every Civ game. When this was announced I was hoping for Alpha Centauri 2. And I was extremely disappointed with this game when viewed against the original AC.

    But, for whatever reason - I kept playing. And, something funny happened - I found a pretty enjoyable game once I accepted it for what it is vs. what I was hoping for.

    The game is not perfect. In some ways, it is like a Sci-Fi expansion for Civ-5. But, if you spend some time with the game, it is a different game. The addition of: quests, affinities, and a different way of handling technology make for interesting games that vary from one game to the next.

    The weakest part of the game is certainly the wonders and the victories. Both are underwhelming and understated to the point of being flaws.

    But, the need to manage resources carefully - to build affinity specific units vs. city improvements - as well as having to manage the AI opponent's march to victory can make for some challenging games. For example, you may choose Harmony and work to build Xenotitans - but, will you have enough Biomass?

    Hopefully they will continue to support and develop this game. Is it AC2 - no. Is it perfect no. Is it fun, and can you spend a lot of time trying various strategies- yes.

    Judged on its own, SMC-BA is a good game that adds some interesting changes to the original Civ-5 model. Despite lackluster wonders, and a underwhelming (i.e. none) Victory screen - this is a fun game.    … Expand
  46. boompow
    Nov 9, 2014
    8
    I have no idea why this game is getting so much hate. Perhaps it has to do with expectations. Personally I have been waiting for a new Alpha Centauri for ages and this game has completely satisfied this desire. Beautiful graphics, a lot of the great parts of Civ 5 and finally the interstellar expansion scenario I love. The new affinity system is fantastic and adds a neat personal twistI have no idea why this game is getting so much hate. Perhaps it has to do with expectations. Personally I have been waiting for a new Alpha Centauri for ages and this game has completely satisfied this desire. Beautiful graphics, a lot of the great parts of Civ 5 and finally the interstellar expansion scenario I love. The new affinity system is fantastic and adds a neat personal twist along with the customization through virtues which we already know from Civ 5 as policies. The aliens are only disappointing because they stop being anything but a minor inconvenience fairly quickly. I would love to see them be more of a wild card that grows along with your power unless you go harmony. Other than some performance issues there is not much to complain about in this game. If you enjoy Civ and are looking for a more futuristic setting then you will not be disappointed.… Expand
  47. GodModule
    May 9, 2015
    8
    Disclaimer: I paid half price for this game, so my perspective might be a little different from people who dropped the full $50.

    So by now the secret's out...this is pretty much a space add-on for Civ 5. If you're like I was, the negative reviews put you off on this game and you're waiting for an expansion or two to come out to make it worth the while. Let me tell you, though, that    Disclaimer: I paid half price for this game, so my perspective might be a little different from people who dropped the full $50.

    So by now the secret's out...this is pretty much a space add-on for Civ 5. If you're like I was, the negative reviews put you off on this game and you're waiting for an expansion or two to come out to make it worth the while. Let me tell you, though, that there's plenty in Beyond Earth that makes it worth buying right now. Sure, it doesn't revolutionize the series like Alpha Centauri did, but it's still an outstandingly fun and addictive game.

    If you played Civ 5, you'll be able to pick this up on the hardest difficulty immediately. The mechanics are still very similar (or identical) to its predecessor. However, there are a couple of improvements that make this game worth the money. First, the tech tree has been redone to create a lot more strategy than Civ 5's linear tech. In Civ 5, it was pretty much a matter of researching everything as fast as possible. In BE, the tech tree branches out in every direction which makes researching everything quite impossible. This means that you have to plan out your research much more carefully. While this new mechanic is a definite improvement, it does take some getting used to, and you'll probably have to restart more than a few times before you're satisfied with your path.

    Affinities are another new feature, and they really help you to tailor your civ exactly the way you want it. Although they're similar to the ideologies in the Brave New World expansion, they offer much more substantial bonuses that can completely change the way you manage your civilization and its environment. For example, pursuing the Harmony affinity allows you to turn the land's natural dangers into benefits for your civ and can create a plethora of new strategic options when it comes to battling an enemy with a different affinity. Furthermore, each affinity offers its own path to victory, so choose carefully.

    One thing that really bugged me about this game were the endings. After dozens of hours of gameplay, all you get is a little one paragraph textbox that basically says, "You win! Congratulations!" I know that the Civilization series is all about the experience of managing your own empire in a sandbox world, but come on...it's a 2014 game. How hard would it be to tack on a five minute cinematic to reward all your careful planning and execution? BE features a lot more in the way of narrative elements than previous Civ games, so I was really hoping for a good ending. Make it happen next time, Firaxis!

    All in all, this was a very fun, very addictive game. Reviewed on its own merits, it would be a 9 or 10. However, being so similar to its predecessor really knocks it down a peg. Still, there is a lot of reason to hope that the expansions will really open this game up and build on what it already does right to make it something truly revolutionary. If you can set aside the expectation that this is supposed to be the next Alpha Centauri, or if you can pick it up for cheap like I did, you should definitely play this game.    … Expand
  48. bwheatley
    Mar 8, 2015
    10
    This game really scratches an itch that i needed to get scratched. I enjoyed the spiritual successor to alpha Centauri. I'd give this game a chance for folks on the fence.
  49. Iduakil
    Nov 21, 2014
    8
    How to put it .... at release day I was disappointed. I had much hopes for this title after over 900 hourse spent in Civ5. And after few hours I felt I played a major mod for Civ5 .... I felt depressed. And at that moment I was rating the game as 5 or 6 tops ... but now. I think the game is quite good actually but the balance changes are ESSENTIAL if it`s lifespan is supposed to lastHow to put it .... at release day I was disappointed. I had much hopes for this title after over 900 hourse spent in Civ5. And after few hours I felt I played a major mod for Civ5 .... I felt depressed. And at that moment I was rating the game as 5 or 6 tops ... but now. I think the game is quite good actually but the balance changes are ESSENTIAL if it`s lifespan is supposed to last longer than 6 months tops. Affinity is great, Tech web is great, New setting, graphics, environment, aliens. Superb. But all of those can be tweaked even more and I hope Firaxis still see potential to improve with their game as it is a solid game. Just polish it a bit more!… Expand
  50. Dimppa
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    Civ BE is not worth 10 but nor is it 6. i think it's good game even great, "you can't advance through ages" What did you expect? everyone forgetting what computer is after that leave spaceship?
  51. Hurley
    Feb 2, 2015
    8
    This is an excellent addition to the Civ canon (I have played since the original Civ!). The game itself is based on Civ 5 and appears significantly influenced by Alpha Centauri (SMAC) and both of these are good. The alien feel is excellent and the interaction with alien life and implications on factions excellent. I find it good as a casual 3 hours or so build or a much longer and seriousThis is an excellent addition to the Civ canon (I have played since the original Civ!). The game itself is based on Civ 5 and appears significantly influenced by Alpha Centauri (SMAC) and both of these are good. The alien feel is excellent and the interaction with alien life and implications on factions excellent. I find it good as a casual 3 hours or so build or a much longer and serious immersion. Some small things detract, for example, if you have arrived in orbit why isn't all the land visible?… Expand
  52. Skylord_wolffae
    Oct 29, 2014
    8
    A lot of people have been saying that this game is a lot like Civ 5. Well yes but in the same way Civ 5 is to Civ 4. There is a lot more verity to the chosen Civs progression thanks to affinities and decisions for building improvements. The Ui is a bit of a mess sometimes but it may just take a bit of time to get used to. Favours are a nice touch on occasions but I am yet to find much of aA lot of people have been saying that this game is a lot like Civ 5. Well yes but in the same way Civ 5 is to Civ 4. There is a lot more verity to the chosen Civs progression thanks to affinities and decisions for building improvements. The Ui is a bit of a mess sometimes but it may just take a bit of time to get used to. Favours are a nice touch on occasions but I am yet to find much of a use for them. Random events are a plus. My main fault is the same as the one at the release of Civ 5, choice. Though BE has a lot more variety it seems slightly condensed still but with this is mind a few bits of DLC will solve this.… Expand
  53. hernethehunter
    Aug 15, 2015
    8
    A solid Civ title that is unfairly and inevitably is going to be compared as the spiritual successor to Sid Meirs Alpha Centauri.

    Without any expansions thus far it takes a relatively more conservative approach to a science fiction and gameplay context compared to that title. But it does innovate in respect to the tech web and affinity systems from previous titles. It has been    A solid Civ title that is unfairly and inevitably is going to be compared as the spiritual successor to Sid Meirs Alpha Centauri.

    Without any expansions thus far it takes a relatively more conservative approach to a science fiction and gameplay context compared to that title. But it does innovate in respect to the tech web and affinity systems from previous titles. It has been criticised as just a mod for Civ 5 but like its predecessors Civ 5 and Civ 4 the base game will improve with expansions. So far i've played 140 hours and have enjoyed the game very much. Looking forward to what Rising Tide the first expansion will bring.    … Expand
  54. r4phstryker
    Oct 30, 2014
    10
    One more turn,one more turn...one more turn! This game need more contents and patchs,but i got better things to do instead of ♥♥♥♥♥ing about a decent game at launch.
  55. Pahvlor
    Nov 5, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I personally think Beyond Earth has the chance to be a big game in the civilization franchise. However, there are a few minor problems that prevent it from being a outstanding game.

    First, people need to stop comparing BE to the finished product of Civ 5 Brave New World. Civ 5 wasn't perfect when it came out, but with time it became a great game. There are a few areas of the game that feel like a re-skin of Civ 5, but there are also lots of new concepts.

    The civilization games have been based on history. You know who the leaders and can associate them with events in history and can understand their personality. In BE, you don't know the leaders of the sponsors because it is set future. The leaders of the sponsors also don't have much personality.

    However, the lack of history behind the game also gives you the tech web. This may be confusing at first, but after you get use to it the web design it is way better than the tech tree.

    The victory types are new with the exception for domination. The way the victories tie in with the strategic resources can make the game play in a different way every time.

    The beginning of the game provides even more variation. When setting up you have options besides choosing the map type. You can choose bonuses that will help you throughout the game.

    The user interface could use some work. The city screen is cluttered, butting is not unbearable.

    I know this game will be better in the future when DLC come out. You know there will be some because some countries are unaccounted for. There is no civ tied to Great Britain. the Middle East, minus Pakistan, is left out for now. Finland, Sweden, Norway and some other European nations don't appear to be in the game. Those are at least three more possible civs. I believe Great Britain will be implemented rather soon becaus ethereal are no civs tied to naval combat or ocean trades or anything water related. (Sorry for the speculation)

    This game is solid for what it is. People need to stop comparing it to Civ 5 Brave New World. Civ 5 was also a little underwhelming when it first came out. But with patches and expansions it became an amazing game. Beyond Earth is going to pan out the same way. With that said, it still is a good game that is worth your time. It is just as addicting as any other Civ game that makes you feel like you want to play just one more turn.    … Expand
  56. loppstalker
    Nov 3, 2014
    10
    Lopp likes Beyond Earth. Lopp enjoys playing the ARC and making spies. Lots of spies for Lopp. Lopp works on gaining the shinies. Lopp likes shinies..
  57. legus
    Nov 2, 2014
    10
    Это ШИН, господа! Лучше цивы, а маминых неосиляторов не слушайте. Пять раз за вечер свои деньги отбивает!
  58. weregamer
    Nov 4, 2014
    8
    Overall CivBE lives up to the expectations set by the pre-launch publicity, and is blessedly free of game-breaking bugs (although I've seen reports of issues with specific monitor configurations).

    That said, it shows evidence of having been rushed out as a speculative product. Many little details of production quality are missing (for example all the technology and wonder quotes are    Overall CivBE lives up to the expectations set by the pre-launch publicity, and is blessedly free of game-breaking bugs (although I've seen reports of issues with specific monitor configurations).

    That said, it shows evidence of having been rushed out as a speculative product. Many little details of production quality are missing (for example all the technology and wonder quotes are delivered by the same voice actor, rather than by the actor for the leader they are attributed to). There are also some annoying bugs that need to be addressed, chief among which are assignment of building quests to cities that can't build that building and the really bad problems users on lower-end graphics hardware have with UI updates.

    Overall, I'd say that if you like the Civ series, and aren't one of the Civ 5 haters, this is worth your purchase, and supporting the game with your dollars will encourage both patches for the problems and better funding for future games in the series.    … Expand
  59. phishyphishy
    Nov 10, 2014
    8
    Play If: You love civilization games. It's as fun as all the rest.

    Don't Play If: This is your first civilization game. Pick up Civ V and treat this as a sequel.
  60. Macwho11
    Oct 24, 2014
    10
    Great game play of old, nice graphics, great soundtrack to go with the theme, sure feels like CIV 5 (Which there is nothing at all wrong with). Love the touch of quests to make everyone's game feel different. Give it more time to get use to I think will see more better reviews.

    Love 4X games
  61. Zamioku
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't understand why everyone keeps comparing this game with Civ 5 and saying that it's just not as good.
    Personally I think it's a brilliant game in it's own, but if you want to compare it to Civ 5 then I can say without a doubt that it's a much smaller game (less civs, fewer mechanics, fewer specializations) but much better thought out and adapted.
    The aliens are a constant, REAL threat, they are diverse and the rewards for killing them are much more meaningful (due to the quests) unlike the wimpy barbarians of Civ who were just waiting to be wiped out.
    The upgrades, virtues, affinities and all of their effects are all very clear and very visible. There is no second guessing, or wondering as to the effects of my specialization, as in Civ 5 and this gives me a feeling that the game is much more solid.
    There is so much to be said why Beyond Earth is so much better and innovative than Civ 5, but I would rather players take this game separately so they can fully enjoy and graps it's unique concepts.    … Expand
  62. Zagbok
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    wow just wow, if you did not like the other civ games, go away. If you did like them you will love this. The paths you can take the choices before you enter the game. Wow I enjoyed having more decisions that shapes you people into more than just people some times. The game is not alpha Centauri it is beyond earth.
  63. singetak
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    Honestly i like it a lot. I like the thing about the quests, about starting weak against the alien which is fair as it is a new alien world. I like the favor point thingy which is also something new.The thing with the upgrade i see much smoother than the idea of creating your unit in alpha century because i remember back when i played Alpha century i used to hate the idea of having a lotHonestly i like it a lot. I like the thing about the quests, about starting weak against the alien which is fair as it is a new alien world. I like the favor point thingy which is also something new.The thing with the upgrade i see much smoother than the idea of creating your unit in alpha century because i remember back when i played Alpha century i used to hate the idea of having a lot of units type and names.… Expand
  64. Evilmonky
    Oct 30, 2014
    10
    Huge Civ fan since Civ1, Alpha Centuri is an all time classic and favourite of mine. This is my first metacritic review, had to say something after my first full play through on epic, what an adventure. Its been years since I have been so totally engrossed in a game. Never has a civ game been as customisable or have so many paths to victory. Alpha tried at this and succeeded but beyondHuge Civ fan since Civ1, Alpha Centuri is an all time classic and favourite of mine. This is my first metacritic review, had to say something after my first full play through on epic, what an adventure. Its been years since I have been so totally engrossed in a game. Never has a civ game been as customisable or have so many paths to victory. Alpha tried at this and succeeded but beyond earth takes it to a different level. It truly is about survival on a hostile planet,. how u survive and adapt to your environment is totally down to you. Trade, espionage and diplomacy have never been as well executed in a civ game it was incredible manipulating other races to bend to my will. I guess the civ 5 trolls are being very vocal in these reviews, but the simplified civ model is how it should be and how it started, personal opinion I guess. Multiplayer is very fluid with so little micromanagement required.… Expand
  65. Saporaku
    Nov 4, 2014
    8
    I think this game has been getting a lot of flak just for not being Civ. Its not as involved as Civ. There are definitely drop offs in it where you aren't addicted to hit next turn where it is just easier, but over all its really solid for a 4x. The victory types are unique and interesting. The tech tree has a non-linear progression (which adds to the power of espionage, something that hasI think this game has been getting a lot of flak just for not being Civ. Its not as involved as Civ. There are definitely drop offs in it where you aren't addicted to hit next turn where it is just easier, but over all its really solid for a 4x. The victory types are unique and interesting. The tech tree has a non-linear progression (which adds to the power of espionage, something that has been lacking in civ if you are a scientifically advanced culture *cough*sejong*cough*) which adds to the way the game is set up. Its not about linear progression, but instead, about figuring out an effective path for maximizing your game objective. As a result, there is not a guaranteed path where you are going to be butting heads with AI or just finding AI to be useless. However! There does seem to be a "best" path if your objective is beating the game in the fewest turns(which is how I play). I think there still needs to be a lot of balancing done, but it was the same when Civ 5 was first released(beating the game with rome in the 1600's by culture was a little silly). The first big patch that Civ 5 did was AMAZING, so I have expectations that they will at least do a big patch on this one like they did for CIv 5.
    Overall, its different. Which is exactly what I think you should expect from Civ in space.    … Expand
  66. brunoconde
    Dec 6, 2014
    10
    As a Civilization fan (since the first version), I think this is a great game. Civ V is very simplified, true, and Beyond Earth looks like a well-fashioned mod. But it really looks like the title I was looking for, after finishing a Civ V game. Fills that emptiness that we feel after finishing a Civ V game. Very good game. I just Hope the guys from Firaxis keep enhancing it.
  67. KalikoKat
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game, some differences from Civ V, replaces the tech tree with a web so that you don't have to worry about being ahead of other civs in researching, adds affinities, love it.… Expand
  68. KielW
    Jul 17, 2016
    8
    I bought BE on sale recently for under $10, so it gets a much more relaxed rating than if I had paid brand new game pricing for it.

    It pretty much is what everyone else has said, a glorified Civ5 space DLC. But does it need to be more? It's fun, it's (at this point) not full of bugs, and it works.
  69. Genek13
    Nov 18, 2019
    9
    It's not a CiV6 level of quality but still very decent one.
    Suck me in after few turns. Unique setting of the game, isolation and overall visuals are great.

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best PC Game of 2014
21
#21 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 78 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 78
  3. Negative: 1 out of 78
  1. CD-Action
    Jan 9, 2015
    90
    Cancel all your plans and fill up the fridge, because once you launch Beyond Earth you will not want to leave your home. [13/2014, p.46]
  2. Worth Playing
    Dec 23, 2014
    85
    Passive AI and lackluster online support from the community isn't enough to make Civilization: Beyond Earth a total wash. If you've enjoyed the series over the years, you'll likely spend many hours with this entry as well.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    Dec 21, 2014
    80
    Prepare for tech tree troubles, but the amount to discover and overall quality wins out. [Christmas 2014, p.64]
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