Civilization: Beyond Earth cover art

Civilization: Beyond Earth

Optimizing affinity paths and tech web choices on a randomized alien frontier.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION2 /10READS2 /10VARIANCE4 /10OPTIMIZATION9 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    2/10

    Point-and-click turn actions; nothing physical

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    2/10

    Faction AI uses static scripts, not player-reactive strategies

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    4/10

    Alien spawns and fog of war add manageable hidden elements

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    9/10

    Affinity choices and tech web routing define victory conditions deeply

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords cover art

Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Pure Optimization · story-driven RPG

E
R
V
O
Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Divinity: Original Sin 2 cover art

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Pure Optimization · tactical party RPG

E
R
V
O
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Pillars of Eternity cover art

Pillars of Eternity

Pure Optimization · isometric party RPG

E
R
V
O
Pillars of Eternity
Europa Universalis IV cover art

Europa Universalis IV

Pure Optimization · early modern grand strategy

E
R
V
O
Europa Universalis IV
Medieval II: Total War cover art

Medieval II: Total War

Pure Optimization · grand strategy wargame

E
R
V
O
Medieval II: Total War
Honkai: Star Rail cover art

Honkai: Star Rail

Pure Optimization · turn-based RPG

E
R
V
O
Honkai: Star Rail

Game details

Released
2014
Developer
Firaxis Games
Franchise
Sid Meier
Platforms
Linux, PC, Mac
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB critics
82/100
IGDB users
71/100
SimulatorStrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)Science fiction4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)