Civilization: Beyond Earth review roundup

Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth launches for PC today, 24 October 2014.

The game is the latest entry into the Civilization series, and is set in a future where modern society as we know it has collapsed. You are tasked with leading an expedition to outer space with the aim of finding a new home planet for mankind.

Beyond Earth was sitting on 82 on Metacritic at the time of writing, which, for those of you who did not do well at maths, is good. Because it’s out of 100.

Here is what the international critics thought of the game. (If you are impressed with what you see and want to buy the game, check out our pre-order price roundup for Beyond Earth.)

Gamespot – 7/10

The path to victory is more elegantly interwoven with the early and middle game this time around, and of course, global domination, ever the crude way out, remains as tempting as ever when another world leader shows up uninvited to talk some smack.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, then; a journey to a planet halfway across the universe reaffirming the draw of the same old creature comforts–a plot of land, and just one more turn.

Polygon – 9/10

Civilization: Beyond Earth is an immensely pleasing simulation of a future human society, struggling to survive on a new planet. It presents the player with a constant stream of challenging and intriguing choices.

Packed with big ideas about science and science fiction, it meticulously interlocks dozens of strategic gaming systems that work together at a level that approaches genius.

Joystiq – 4/5

Civilization: Beyond Earth is a good game in the context of the Civilization franchise. It moves to the interesting mechanics faster than any entry in the series to date and everything within the game world looks great.

A lot of time went into making the new planet pop visually, if only so much care had gone into the presentation around it.

Eurogamer – 8/10

Civilization has always had something to say about this stuff (and civilisation has always had something to say about this stuff) but Beyond Earth goes further than ever, suggesting that even if we do eventually live on Pluto, the distractions will have joined us there, and will probably have multiplied.

When we get into space, the real danger – and the real wonder – will be the fact that we have brought ourselves along.

Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth

IGN – 7.9/10

Beyond Earth is nowhere near the strongest game in the more than 20-year-old Civilization series, but this big collection of interesting experimental ideas definitely still kept me playing long after I should’ve gone to bed.

The Affinities and streamlined military upgrade system, and a colorful change of scenery make it worth the time to figure out the difference between Protogenetics and Surrogacy, and suffering through temperamental alien wildlife.

PC Gamer – 87/100

This is how Beyond Earth succeeds in spite of its similarities to Civ 5. It offers a game steeped in the traditions and mechanics of Civilization, that’s nevertheless surprising and new in often unexpected ways.

Although its foundation in Civ 5 makes it familiar, Beyond Earth is full of interesting surprises that are pleasantly difficult to master.