Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

Yeah, I've played the basegame, as well as mods like Realism Invictus and Ashes of Erebus, and I have to say: it's not great.
I have a strong suspicion that all the people who say it is play Civ not like a 4X but as a turn-based RTS. The game is fundamentally from the ground up intended for you to be a constantly expanding warmonger. All other systems and victory types are ancillary. There's simply not enough beyond just warfare to make it satisfying.

Get it

Often imitated, never surpassed. This is one of the greats. Countless mods extend what was already a fantastic game!

Still the best civ game out there. And some fun mods are available.

The best, forget the rest.

Civilization at its peak. You don't need a crappy rehash when you have games like this available.

This is one of the best games of all time

fun

TS PMO ICL ONB ONB

one of the best games ever made. and a steal on steam!!!!

its fun

The best Civ

Still playing this game 20 years after release!

best civ

civ 5 but better

Simply a great game!

Never the same world twice, amazing value and great replay!

Every game is different

I have played this game for close to 20 years now. I've used disk version, other DD vendors, and the Steam version (now for quite some years). I am a moderator over on civfanatics.com as well. I believe this to be not only the best in the Civ series, best in 4X, but one of the best games of all time. IV is the epitome of turned-based strategy that will continuously challenge you, and keep you coming back for more.

In addition, there is a huge mod community for this game that is still active today. Mods that expand the game tremendously, provide unique challenges, or create fantasy worlds and scenarios that you may already be familiar with.

The graphics were cutting-edge 3D at the time and still hold up tremendously today. The graphics will never get old. Crisp, and perfectly clear graphics where you can actually look at a unit and know what it is without some little icons. I still prefer them over later versions like 5 or 6.

If you have not played IV, I highly recommend you try this game. As others have said, Beyond The Sword (BTS) is the definitive version.

civ 4 is by far the best, the graphics are mid but def playable in 2025. 4 is by far better than 6 and 7, its jsut so classic

I was looking foward to playing this. but I can't complete a game without crashing.

When I log back in I've lost hours, not sure what the autosave is saving, I can't restore it.

With the Caveman2Cosmos mod, this is probably still the greatest version of Civilization. Too bad it's not a hex map, but otherwise the newer versions of the game are not an improvement.

This is the highpoint of the civ series. Still has the core mechanics that civ series is known for and the AI is with all honesty, quite decent.

"You can get more of what you want with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word." - Al Capone

Oliver Twist loves this game!

One of the best Civ games, in spite of the quite annoying battle system, where you can loose two 90 % winning change battles in a row. This mechanic is better in later Civ games. But on the other hand, this Civ game includes one of the best civ mods ever: Rhyes and Fall of Civilization and its modmod: Dawn of Civilization. These mods makes me still come back for Civ 4. That, and then ofcourse nostalgia.

The greatest civ game. While I love civ 6 (still waiting for hotseat in 7), the lack of the ability to trade technology, have vassals, and the replacement of the UN, are all why I come back to Civ 4 BTS over and over.

It is shame that we have to rate Civilization 4.

This game deserve a Nobel prize.

A Strategic Masterpiece Elevated

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword isn’t just an expansion—it’s the definitive version of Civ IV, representing the game at its strategic peak. Widely celebrated by fans on Steam, this expansion breathes new life into an already exceptional game by introducing more complexity, deeper late-game mechanics, and a broader spectrum of choices. For long-time Civ veterans and those seeking the most refined turn-based experience, Beyond the Sword is where the series truly hits its stride.

🏗️ Gameplay Additions – Strategic Depth Reinforced
Beyond the Sword introduces a wealth of new content that enhances every stage of gameplay, especially the often-overlooked later eras. The addition of espionage gives players new ways to disrupt rivals without open war, while corporations act as late-game equivalents to religions, creating economic incentives and adding another dimension to global influence.

Another standout feature is the expanded technology tree, which allows for more nuanced planning in the modern and future eras. Players who enjoy long games on larger maps often praise how this keeps the endgame dynamic and competitive, rather than a predictable slog.

That said, not all additions are universally loved. Espionage, for instance, can feel intrusive or overly punishing when AI civs relentlessly sabotage you. Some players feel it shifts the balance too heavily toward disruptive tactics rather than strategic development. Still, for those who master it, espionage becomes a powerful tool.

🌍 Scenarios and Civilizations – Variety and Replayability
This expansion includes new civilizations, leaders, and units, significantly broadening the game's scope. Fans particularly enjoy the unique playstyles and historical flair of additions like the Dutch, Portuguese, and Sumerians. The new leaders offer different trait combinations that encourage varied strategies and experimentation.

The bundled scenarios offer creative reinterpretations of the base game mechanics. From alternate histories to futuristic warfare, these scenarios allow players to step into new worlds and rulesets while still using the Civ IV engine. While not all scenarios are equally polished, the variety they bring adds considerable replay value.

🧠 AI Improvements and Balance – Smarter Competition
Players on Steam consistently highlight that the AI feels more robust in Beyond the Sword compared to the base game. Opponents tend to play more intelligently, trade more sensibly, and pursue victory conditions more aggressively. The expansion also refines unit balances and civic choices, making for a more strategic, less exploitable experience overall.

Of course, AI still has its limitations—occasionally making odd decisions or failing to prioritize objectives effectively—but overall, it presents a more challenging and rewarding opponent than in previous versions.

🧰 Modding Support – The Game That Keeps Giving
Beyond the Sword is legendary for its modding capabilities, and many of the most ambitious Civ IV mods were built on this expansion. For players on Steam, this is often the gateway to massive total conversion mods like Fall from Heaven II (a dark fantasy overhaul) or Caveman2Cosmos (which stretches the timeline to extremes).

This has made BTS feel less like an expansion and more like a modding platform in its own right. Even after hundreds of hours, there's always something new to explore, especially for players willing to dive into community content.

🎼 Presentation and Interface – Dated but Elegant
While the visuals haven’t aged flawlessly, Civ IV's crisp interface and clear unit design still make it easy to play. Many fans appreciate how informative and intuitive the menus are, even by modern standards. The music, voiceovers (Leonard Nimoy’s tech narration remains iconic), and ambient sounds all contribute to a surprisingly immersive atmosphere.

That said, newer players might find the UI less streamlined than recent Civ titles, and some late-game slowdown can occur on larger maps or with many active civilizations.

🎯 Final Verdict
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is more than just an add-on—it’s a milestone in 4X strategy design. It builds on the strong foundation of Civ IV with meaningful additions that enhance every aspect of the game, particularly the often-neglected late game. Its strategic complexity, scenario variety, and outstanding modding potential have earned it a lasting legacy among the most dedicated fans of the genre.

Final Score: 9.6/10

A genre-defining expansion that turns a great strategy game into an enduring classic. While a few features could be better balanced, Beyond the Sword remains one of the most complete and rewarding strategy experiences available on Steam.

If you liked my attempt at making a professional review of this game, please leave a like for this review and if you think I should continue doing professional game reviews, then click on "Award" in the bottom right corner. Thank you!

The best version of Civ 4 imo

My go-to "I feel like conquering the world" game

One of the pillars that makes a leadership strategy game a leadership strategy game. I 100% recommend it whether you're into older games, strategy games, or just looking for something new.

This game is great. It applies all the concepts of the civilisation franchise better than the newer Civ games. Only downside is the garbage graphics and strange spying mechanic, but spies in civ 6 are shit too.

Classic amazing game

El mejor civ de todos, aguante poner mil unidades en la misma casilla

it is never the same when i play the game i love it

I definitely recommend this over the later editions. It just has more sensible mechanics than the newer versions of the franchise. Buuuuuuuut... I had to stop playing when I upgraded my TV because the menu does not scale to 4k. The game itself looks fine, but it's completely illegible. By "completely", I mean I can't make out the words on a 75" screen from just 8' away. And I can't find any way to fix it.

This is my favourite Civilisations game. It is the last of the ye olde Civilisations with a grid style map. This game does suffer from huge turn times in large world maps at end game... all those unit death stacks and tonnes of cities.

There is a thriving modding community for this game. its worth a try if you want to experience old Civ.

the best CIV ever made

Who's Sid Meier

It's the most complete version of the best Civ game. Civ IV is more polished and complete than the ones that came before it. Deeper and far more interesting than the ones that came after it. This is the pinnacle of the series and possibly the genre.

masterpiece

Infinite replay value

For me, Civilization IV is the pinnacle of the Civ series. The extensive yet accessible game mechanics make it a fantastic sandbox for building an empire to stand the test of time. It comes with amazing music and doomstacks.

great game!

arguably the most customizable gameplay in any civ game. lots of attention to detail too, sometimes with stuff not even civ vi paid attention to.

good game!

Peak of of the genre.