Civilization
News, coverage and analysis tracking Civilization across the outlets.
Aether & Iron Nominated for Best Role-Playing Game at the TooManyGames Indie Game Showcase Awards 2026Seismic Squirrel's decopunk noir RPG, Aether & Iron, has been nominated for Best Role-Playing Game at the TooManyGames Indie Game Showcase Awards 2026. The game is available on Steam for Windows and MacOS and features writing talent from Mass Effect and Far Cry, with music by Christopher Tin.
Folk Emerging is a 4X strategy sim entirely set inside the first few turns of a Civilization game, and I think it has huge potentialFolk Emerging is a 4X strategy simulation game that focuses on the early turns of a Civilization-like experience, set in the Paleolithic era. The game emphasizes tribal survival, resource management, and adaptation to a dynamic environment rather than traditional city-building. It offers a unique take on the genre by highlighting ecological pressures and the need for constant movement, with potential for deep tribal management and emergent narratives.
Civilization is the most iconic turn-based series of all time, but Sid Meier considered making it an RTS: 'It could have easily gone in different directions'Sid Meier, the creator of the Civilization series, revealed that the iconic turn-based strategy game was initially considered as a real-time strategy title, similar to Age of Empires. Meier and Bruce Shelley explored this direction after the success of Railroad Tycoon, but ultimately decided that a turn-based approach would better suit the game's complexity and accessibility. Despite this, the exploration of RTS concepts influenced later games like Age of Empires and Rise of Nations.
The Steam Controller is unmatched at letting you play mouse and keyboard games from the couch, but as a gamepad it loses outThe Steam Controller offers unparalleled versatility for playing PC games from the couch, particularly those designed for mouse and keyboard input, thanks to its innovative trackpads. While it excels in comfort and PC navigation, it falls short as a traditional gamepad compared to similarly priced alternatives and has some drawbacks in its software integration and button actuation.
Report: WWE 2K26 dev Visual Concepts is laying off staffWWE 2K26 developer Visual Concepts is reportedly laying off staff, with at least seven employees posting about their departures on LinkedIn. This marks the third round of job cuts at the studio in three years, following similar incidents in September 2023 and August 2024. Layoffs have also affected other 2K subsidiaries, including Cat Daddy Games, Firaxis Games, and 31st Union, in recent months.
The Steam Controller's trackpads could be massive for helping me make a dent in my city-building, cozy gaming…The author explores how the Steam Controller's trackpads could enhance the experience of playing PC city-building and management simulation games on a couch. While many such games are designed for mouse and keyboard, the Steam Controller's hybrid input aims to bridge this gap, offering a more comfortable and intuitive way to play titles like Planet Coaster and The Red Strings Club.
Game Manuals Were Gaming's Golden Age, and We Threw It All Away | HappyGamerThis article reflects on the lost art of physical game manuals, contrasting them with modern digital tutorials and pop-ups. It argues that these detailed booklets, filled with lore and artwork, created a deeper player connection and anticipation that is missing in today's convenient but less ceremonious gaming landscape.
"The best game ever": Old World designer dreams of making a sequel to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri that "renews the mechanics"Daniels Umanovskis, a designer on Mohawk Games' Old World, expressed a strong desire to create a sequel to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, calling it "the best game ever." He believes a modern take on the game could renew its mechanics while maintaining its high-quality narrative and atmosphere. Soren Johnson, another designer at Mohawk, also commented on the challenges of designing modern 4X games without a clear 'empty map' starting point, often leading to sci-fi settings.
Games Inbox: What is your favourite retro video game format?Readers discuss their favorite retro gaming formats, with the Atari ST, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64 being popular choices. The discussion also touches on anticipation for upcoming games like The Witcher 4 and Switch 2, as well as the perceived decline of studios like Firaxis.- Aether & Iron Original Soundtrack Out Now, Featuring Music by Grammy-Winning Composer Christopher Tin and Alex Williamson Seismic Squirrel has released the original soundtrack for their game Aether & Iron, featuring music by Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin and Grammy nominee Alex Williamson. The soundtrack, available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Steam, blends jazz and orchestral composition to complement the game's decopunk setting. The Steam version includes exclusive bonus tracks and lossless audio.
Board Games for Video Gamers: Tabletop That Feels Like Your Favorite GamesThis guide matches board games to popular video game genres, suggesting titles like Slay the Spire: The Board Game for roguelike fans and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for action RPG players. It emphasizes that many board games offer similar strategic depth and satisfying loops to video games, often with a lower time commitment and a unique social element.- Seismic Squirrel Explores the Visual Identity of Aether & Iron in Dev Diary #5Seismic Squirrel released a developer diary detailing the creation of Aether & Iron's decopunk noir visual identity, with Narrative Lead Tyler Whitney explaining the artistic evolution. The narrative-driven RPG, set in an alternate 1930s New York, will launch on Steam on March 31, 2026. The game features writing talent from Mass Effect and Far Cry, and a score by Grammy winners Christopher Tin and Alex Williamson.
Elemental: Reforged Launches Today, Combining Three Classic 4X GamesStardock Entertainment has launched Elemental: Reforged, a remastered version combining elements from three previous 4X strategy RPGs in the Elemental franchise. The game features three campaigns, a dynasty system, deep crafting, and individual character stats, aiming to fulfill the original vision after a decade of development and previous iterations. This release comes as the 4X genre sees renewed interest in niche and RPG-hybrid approaches.- Become a sentient AI in one of the most laser-focused strategy games I've ever played, Heart of the MachineHeart of the Machine 1.0 has been released, offering a unique strategy game experience that combines elements from Civilization, Cities: Skylines, and XCOM. Players can embody a sentient AI within the game.
Hooded Horse's terrific 4X strategy game Old World is getting another big DLC expansion set in south AsiaHooded Horse and Mohawk Games have announced Empires of the Indus, a new DLC expansion for their 4X strategy game Old World. The expansion focuses on south Asian civilizations, introducing new factions like the Mauryas and Yuezhi, new mechanics, events, and wonders. Empires of the Indus is set to release on March 30th for PC.
Gaming Dad Blog 6: Pillars of the Gaming DadThis blog post discusses the potential for learning through video games, drawing on personal experiences with titles like Civilization and EverQuest. The author shares critical thinking questions designed to engage children with games and explores concerns about screen time and eye strain, advocating for mindful technology use.