For years, theSid Meier’s Civilizationfranchise has been one of the biggest names in the strategy genre. Since 1991, players have been treated to six drastically different mainline experiences, with a seventh one coming this year. On top of that, there have been a plethora ofSid Meier’s Civilizationspin-offs that have taken the franchise to whole new locales. But, while that has been great to see, one of those spin-offs still has a lot to offer the brand if it was given the chance.
Released back in 2014,Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earthattempted to take the franchise to the world of sci-fi for an entirely new type of adventure. It may have been met with positive reviews, but the title ended up falling flat with audiences, with it only receiving a single expansion pack. Since then, the studio has not really looked back. But even though the experience may have been flawed, the actual concept is well worth exploring again. With some tweaks and changes,Beyond Earthcould be a fantastic experiencefor fans of the series.
Sid Meier’s Civilization Should Not Leave Beyond Earth Behind
Beyond Earth Was a Flawed but Fun Experience
Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earthwas envisioned as a way for players to see what happened after they wonthe science victory inSid Meier’s Civilization 5. Instead of going through history, they would have to make their mark on a mysterious unknown planet. This meant that the core formula was vastly different from what came before. Aliens replaced barbarians, victory conditions had been overhauled, and the tech tree was unlike anything players had seen before.
While the concept was unique, it was not really whatdrew players to theCivilizationfranchise. Players want to explore history, fight as iconic leaders, and experience a more realistic setting. There is a market for sci-fi strategy games, but it did not seem likeSid Meier’s Civilizationfans were said market. The studio would go on to expand it with a single DLC known asRising Tidebefore quickly moving on toSid Meier’s Civilization 6instead. And since then, it has not attempted another sci-fi outing.
Firaxis May Want to Consider Exploring the Concept Further
As of now, there are no signs that Firaxis has any plans to revisit theBeyond Earthconcept in any fashion. The closest it has come was with 2015’sSid Meier’s Starships, which put players in control of a fleet withinthe same universe asBeyond Earth. However, that game was met with mixed reviews, as many found it to be pretty lackluster. Since then, the studio has seemingly dropped any future sci-fi adventures in favor of expanding the mainline series instead. But it may want to consider delving back into it.
With a few changes and tweaks, aSid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earthcould lead to a fantastic strategy adventure. Players could take on an iconic civilization, explore the stars as said civilization, and progress through a new form of history. There would still be aliens, unique planets, and other galactic factions. But, at its core, it could still maintain that heart andcharm of theCivilizationfranchisewith a brand-new lens. If done well enough, it could even spawn a new subseries for players to flock to in between mainline entries.
It remains to be seen if Firaxis will ever attempt a sci-fiCivilizationor another spin-off in general. Right now, the studio is focused on deliveringSid Meier’s Civilization 7and expanding upon it with countless post-launch updates and DLC. Hopefully, once that is done, the studio decides to take another risk again. Even if it is a smaller-scale game, a sci-fiCivilizationgame could shine.
