PCGame

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

Turn-based historical 4X expansion focused on richer late-game strategy

Firaxis Games · Published by 2K · Released Jul 24, 2007

Strategy

Reviews
Overwhelmingly Positive
96% of 4,050
Recent reviews
Very Positive
100% of 15 in 30 days
Players
1,405
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Last update on Steam
Unknown
no patch notes on Steam
Minimum PC
–
not published

Metacritic: 86/100 (critic reviews)

What is Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword?

A turn-based historical 4X expansion for Civilization IV, emphasizing eras after gunpowder. You guide a civilization by researching technologies, constructing units and buildings, handling diplomacy, corporations, and espionage, and pursuing military, space, or diplomatic victory in the expanded standard game or 11 scenarios.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy deep turn-based planning and consequential long-term choices
  • +you want challenging AI and varied civilization strategies
  • +you value replayability and support for community mods

Not for you if...

  • −you prefer real-time action and consistently fast pacing
  • −you dislike combat outcomes influenced by probability
  • −you want modern graphics and interface conventions

What players say

96% of 4,050 reviews are positive · 100% of 15 in the last 30 days

Players most often praise its strategic depth, balance, replayability, and challenging AI. Complaints focus on crashes or compatibility problems on modern Windows systems, along with frustrating combat results despite favorable displayed odds.

Players over time

▼ -4% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 1,591 players on Oct 4, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 20261,405
Nov 6, 20261,239
Nov 5, 20261,257
Nov 4, 20261,293
Nov 3, 20261,344
Nov 2, 20261,427
Nov 1, 20261,434
Oct 31, 20261,433
Oct 30, 20261,264
Oct 29, 20261,237
Oct 28, 20261,202
Oct 27, 2026944
Oct 27, 20261,248
Oct 26, 20261,357
Oct 25, 20261,499
Oct 24, 20261,429
Oct 23, 20261,319
Oct 22, 20260
Oct 21, 20261,301
Oct 20, 20261,335
Oct 19, 20261,418
Oct 18, 20261,551
Oct 17, 20261,376
Oct 16, 20261,280
Oct 15, 20261,203
Oct 14, 20261,351
Oct 13, 20261,379
Oct 12, 20261,488
Oct 11, 20261,528
Oct 10, 20261,452
Oct 9, 20261,313
Oct 8, 20261,322
Oct 7, 20261,347
Oct 6, 20261,343
Oct 5, 20261,452
Oct 4, 20261,591
Oct 3, 20261,495
Oct 2, 20261,320
Oct 1, 20261,389
Sep 30, 20261,350
Sep 29, 20261,330
Sep 28, 20261,489
Sep 27, 20261,583
Sep 26, 20261,427
Sep 25, 20261,293
Sep 24, 20261,322
Sep 23, 20261,097
Sep 23, 20261,371
Sep 22, 20261,377
Sep 21, 20261,514

Screenshots and trailer

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword screenshot 1

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword system requirements

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword?

The published requirements do not name a graphics card we can compare.

Set up my PC →

Minimum

Windows 2000 (plus Service Pack 1 or higher), Windows XP Home or Professional (plus Service Pack 1 or higher), or Windows Vista; 1.2GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB video card with hardware T&L (GeForce 2, Radeon 7500 or better), DirectX 7 compatible sound card, 1.7 GB of free hard drive space, DirectX 9.0c (included) Recommended: 1.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor or equivalent (or better), 512 MB RAM, 128 MB video card with DirectX 8 support (pixel and vertex shaders), DirectX 7 compatible sound card, 1.7 GB of free hard drive space, DirectX 9.0c (included)

Does Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword run on Steam Deck?

Unsupported No: Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck.

  • Not supported on SteamOS

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Steam features
Family Sharing
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish - Spain.

Does Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 6, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

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