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 5,096
Recent reviews: Very Positive; 100% of 30 in 30 days
Playing now: 1,097; peak 24h 1,371
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Last update: Unknown; no patch notes found

Free demo available, 0 playing it now: get the demo.

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 5,096 reviews are positive · 100% of 30 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.

Screenshots and trailer

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword system requirements

As published by the developer.

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)