Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings

The main pros of the game

• Enhanced Gameplay Mechanics: The introduction of religion and espionage adds depth and complexity to the game, enhancing strategic options for players.
• Expanded Content: The expansion includes 9 new civilizations, 27 new units, 13 new buildings, and 9 new wonders, enriching the gameplay experience.
• Improved Combat System: The reworked combat mechanics, including a new 100 HP system, make battles feel more balanced and realistic.
• Varied Scenarios: Three new scenarios provide unique gameplay experiences, including historical contexts like the fall of Rome and a steampunk Victorian world.
• Better AI and Diplomacy: Improvements in AI behavior and diplomacy options make interactions with other civilizations more engaging and challenging.
• Customization: Players can create and customize their own religions, adding a personal touch to gameplay.

The main cons of the game

• AI Issues: Some users reported that the AI can feel unbalanced, often cheating or behaving inconsistently, particularly at higher difficulty levels.
• Price Concerns: Many reviews express that the expansion’s price ($29.99) is too high for its content, suggesting players wait for sales.
• Repetitive Espionage Mechanics: While espionage adds depth, some users found it less engaging and felt it could become tedious over time.
• Limited Impact of Religion: Some players felt the religion system could be frustrating, particularly when faced with aggressive missionary actions from AI opponents.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Depth in Diplomacy and Espionage: Users expressed a desire for more nuanced diplomatic interactions and espionage mechanics, indicating that the systems feel somewhat shallow or underdeveloped.
• More Unique Civs: While the expansion adds new civilizations, some players felt that the unique abilities of these civs could be expanded further for more diversity in gameplay.
• Better AI Competence: Many reviews highlighted the need for improvements in AI behavior, particularly in terms of strategic decision-making and combat.
• Customization Options: Some users wished for more flexibility in naming and customizing religions and other game elements, particularly to accommodate different cultural sensitivities.

Summary

• Overall, Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings is regarded as a significant enhancement to the base game, but it has its drawbacks, particularly in AI behavior and pricing. The consensus is that it is a valuable addition, especially when bundled with the Brave New World expansion for a more comprehensive experience.

Summary generated on: October 31, 2025