Recently, I played a new strategy game that I just have to recommend to a few people! The truth is, though, this game is more of a captivating story than just a strategy game. It narrates the tale of human civilization—from living in huts to building the futuristic cities of tomorrow.
Its name is Civilization. In this game, you take on the role of a ruler who has just founded an empire. Your task is to conquer as much land as you can (and, of course, as much as you want) and start building cities. You might even discover a new island or an entire continent where no one has set foot before and claim it as your own. (The lands you control will later determine your key resources and the extent of your nation’s borders.) In the early stages, the key to your civilization’s progress is its population, but if you fail to ensure the loyalty and happiness of your citizens, your civilization’s advancement will slow down day by day and might even fragment into pieces.
Culture, technology, and religious victories will increase your power, while your country’s government and policies can be the key to success. (Beyond that, your relationships with other nations—whether forming alliances or rallying the world against an enemy—can lead you to different types of victories. Winning in Civilization can be achieved through science, culture, domination, or religion.)
The game offers several different forms of government, and it’s up to you to choose or change them (as long as your civilization’s cultural and legal foundations can support the desired system):
- Despotism
- Commercial Republic
- Monarchy
- Theocracy
- Communism
- Democracy
- Fascism
It’s an incredible game. You’ll need at least eight hours just to grasp the various mechanics and features while witnessing firsthand how humanity evolved from cave dwellers to what we see today.
The full name of the version I downloaded, released in 2019, is:
Civilization VI: Gathering Storm
Although playing through a civilization’s rise from scratch two or three times is enough to make the gameplay feel somewhat repetitive, I still believe that the lessons learned from this game are valuable enough to make it worth playing.
All in all, it was an inspiring, philosophical, and rewarding experience for me.
