4.2 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilization IV | 5/5 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_IV | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T13:24:21.863631+00:00 | kb-cron |
Civilization IV received universal critical acclaim with an aggregate score of 94 on Metacritic and an aggregate score of 93.36% on GameRankings. Critics such as GameSpot's Andrew Park praised not only the improvements in the turn-based strategy genre that carried over from other installments in the series, but also noted the game's more advanced 3D computer graphics, difficult AI opponents, and multiplayer feature. The Times praised the improvements of the 3D engine used to generally build the game, and GameGuru appreciated its ability to zoom onto individual squares. IGN commented that the game AI was much more intelligent than it was in Civilization III, which designer Soren Johnson stated was thanks to their "secret pre-beta group" testing the game before release. Game Revolution remarked that "the multiplayer... actually works this time" and GameSpot added that both "single-player and multiplayer options have been improved in Civ IV." Though it had received mostly positive feedback, video game critics pointed out functions in the game which could have been improved to enhance their enjoyment of the game. Steve Butts from IGN suggested that in-game announcements about enemy achievements should be displayed more prominently, and that the multiplayer feature could have included "an option to save my username and password." Likewise, GameSpy's Dave Kosak pointed out other flaws of the multiplayer interface, stating that it "is a little rough in places. The built-in server browser, for instance, will keep jumping around the list as you try to find a game." GameSpot also noted the lack of a "religion-based victory condition", which downplayed the influence that the revamped religion system was supposed to have on the game. In August 2016, Civilization IV placed 11th on Time's The 50 Best Video Games of All Time list. In 2021, PCGamesN ranked it as the best game in the series.
=== Awards === Civilization IV won multiple awards at various events and gaming websites.
IGN chose it as the PC Game of the Year of 2005 over competing titles such as F.E.A.R. and Guild Wars, as the Best Strategy Game (both for PC and overall) and as the Best Online Game of 2005 for PC. In 2006, IGN ranked it first place on The Editor's Top 10 list and second place on the Top 25 PC Games of All Time list. GameSpot awarded the game Best Strategy Game and Best PC Game, and it was nominated as an entry for Game of the Year. GameSpy named the game Game of the Year, PC Game of the Year, and Best PC Turn-Based Strategy Game of the Year. At the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Civilization IV won "Strategy Game of the Year", and was nominated for "Computer Game of the Year". At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards of 2010, the song "Baba Yetu", which was written to be the title theme for Civilization IV, won in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist category, because it had been allowed eligibility in the competition through Christopher Tin's inclusion of the song in his subsequent release of his 2009 album Calling All Dawns. This decision made "Baba Yetu" a landmark in video game history as the first Grammy Award nomination and win for any video game theme. The editors of Computer Games Magazine named Civilization IV the best computer game of 2005, and presented it with their awards for "Best Strategy Game", "Best AI" and "Best Interface". They wrote, "It's a towering achievement, even for a series as revered as this one. Even for long-time fans of the series, playing Civilization IV is like discovering it for the very first time." Civilization IV also won PC Gamer US's "Best Turn-Based Strategy Game 2005" award. The magazine's Dan Stapleton called it "a huge facelift to a winning formula." It was nominated as PC Gamer US's "Best Multiplayer Game 2005" and overall game of the year, but lost in these categories to Battlefield 2.
== References ==
=== Citations ===
=== Sources ===
== External links == Official website Official website (Macintosh version) Sid Meier's Civilization IV at MobyGames