Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Sid Meier's Civilization IV®: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year that has become a worldwide hit.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a strategy, turn-based strategy and 4x game
developed by Firaxis Games
and published by 2K.
Released on July 24th 2007 is available on Windows and MacOS
in 5 languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish - Spain.
It has received 4,592 reviews of which 4,423 were positive and 169 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
Minimum: Windows 2000 (plus Service Pack 1 or higher), Windows XP Home or Professional (plus Service Pack 1 or higher), or Windows Vista; 1.2GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB video card with hardware T&L (GeForce 2, Radeon 7500 or better), DirectX 7 compatible sound card, 1.7 GB of free hard drive space, DirectX 9.0c (included)
Recommended: 1.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor or equivalent (or better), 512 MB RAM, 128 MB video card with DirectX 8 support (pixel and vertex shaders), DirectX 7 compatible sound card, 1.7 GB of free hard drive space, DirectX 9.0c (included)
Recommended: 1.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor or equivalent (or better), 512 MB RAM, 128 MB video card with DirectX 8 support (pixel and vertex shaders), DirectX 7 compatible sound card, 1.7 GB of free hard drive space, DirectX 9.0c (included)
MacOS
Recommended:
- OS: Mac OS X 10.4.11, 10.5.6
- Processor: PowerPC G5 or Intel
- CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz
- Memory: 1 GB
- Hard Disk Space: 2.5 GB free disk space
- Video Card: (ATI): Radeon 9600 Video Card (NVidia): GeForce FX 6600
- Video Memory: (VRam): 128 MB or higher
- Media Required: DVD-ROM Drive
- Peripherals: Macintosh mouse and keyboard
- Supported Video Cards: NVIDIA GeForce 6600, 6800, 7300, 7600, 7800, 8600, 8800, 9400, 9600, GEFORCE GT 120, GEFORCE QUADRO FX 4500 ATI Radeon 9600, 9650, 9700, 9800, X600, X800, X1600, X1900, HD 2400, 2600, 3870
- NOTICE: Intel integrated video chipsets are not supported.
- NOTICE: Apple original CPU’s only, CPU upgrades not supported
- NOTICE: This game is not supported on volumes formatted as Mac OS Extended (Case Sensitive) REQUIRES THE FULL VERSION OF Civilization IV for Mac OS X TO PLAY
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, released in 2007 as the second expansion to the critically acclaimed Civilization IV, is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and enriching additions to the series. While the base game already set a high standard for turn-based 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) strategy, Beyond the Sword deepens almost every aspect of the experience, focusing particularly on the middle and late game—the parts of Civ most prone to stagnation in previous iterations. With a sweeping array of new mechanics, units, leaders, civilizations, and scenarios, Beyond the Sword doesn’t just expand Civilization IV—it redefines its balance, complexity, and narrative potential, making it a must-have for veterans of the series and strategy aficionados alike. One of the core improvements Beyond the Sword introduces is its overhaul of the game’s later stages. In many previous Civilization titles, the early game—discovery, founding cities, initial wars—tended to be the most engaging, while the endgame often devolved into mechanical tedium. This expansion addresses that through several interconnected features. Corporations, for example, act as a kind of late-game counterpart to religions, offering powerful economic and cultural bonuses in exchange for resources. They open up new strategic considerations: do you spread Sid’s Sushi Co. for massive food and culture, or Mining Inc. for production dominance? It adds a fresh layer of economic decision-making that reinvigorates the modern era. Espionage is another major addition. No longer relegated to an afterthought, it becomes a full-fledged system with its own point allocation, buildings, and units. Spies can now infiltrate rival empires, steal technologies, sabotage infrastructure, or foment unrest. This system adds tension and opportunity, especially in multiplayer or higher difficulties, where gathering intelligence and crippling an opponent’s production can mean the difference between dominance and irrelevance. While some players find the micro-management of espionage tedious, its inclusion nonetheless creates a more dynamic, reactive geopolitical environment. Diplomacy also sees a subtle but impactful refinement. With the addition of the Apostolic Palace—a kind of diplomatic UN rooted in religious influence—players now have a tool for indirect control over global politics. Through religious alignment and careful vote manipulation, one can enact trade embargoes, declare wars, or even win a diplomatic victory long before the actual United Nations is built. Combined with a host of new diplomatic modifiers and a broader cast of leaders (like Justinian I or Sitting Bull), diplomacy in Beyond the Sword becomes both more treacherous and more rewarding. The expansion doesn’t stop at mechanics. It also offers an impressive variety of new content. Ten new civilizations and sixteen new leaders bring fresh traits and playstyles. The new traits—like Charismatic or Protective—shift the metagame and encourage new strategies. For instance, a Charismatic leader can more rapidly promote military units and maintain happier populations, while a Protective one might favor a defensive, infrastructure-rich empire. These additions revitalize old strategies and challenge players to adapt to new synergies between traits, unique units, and buildings. Equally notable is the inclusion of an extensive set of custom scenarios and mods. Beyond the Sword essentially acts as a platform for creative experimentation. Scenarios like Final Frontier reimagine Civ in a spacefaring context, while Rhye's and Fall of Civilization offers a historical simulation where nations rise and fall with real-world timing. These aren't just surface-level reskins; they represent dramatically different gameplay experiences that showcase Civ IV's flexibility as a strategy engine. The support for modding, both through included scenarios and a robust SDK, cements Beyond the Sword as a community-friendly expansion with near-limitless potential for user-generated content. Graphically, Beyond the Sword remains consistent with Civilization IV—serviceable rather than groundbreaking. Its charm lies more in its clarity and coherence than in cutting-edge visuals. Units, cityscapes, and terrain remain easy to interpret at a glance, and the UI remains mostly unchanged, which is a blessing for returning players. What the game lacks in aesthetics it more than compensates for with sound design: the excellent orchestral soundtrack and Leonard Nimoy’s narration (from the base game) continue to lend a timeless, thoughtful ambiance to each turn. There are criticisms, of course. The sheer complexity of Beyond the Sword can be overwhelming for newcomers. The AI, while improved in some areas, still struggles with certain late-game decision-making, particularly when it comes to espionage or advanced economic management. Multiplayer remains more stable than in the base game, but still lacks the polish and balance of single-player. And while many additions are deeply rewarding, they do increase the game's learning curve substantially. Nevertheless, these are minor complaints in the grand scheme. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword succeeds because it doesn't just tack on more content—it enriches and rebalances the game at every level. It rewards long-term planning, encourages multifaceted playstyles, and ensures that no phase of the game feels neglected. For players seeking a dense, strategic sandbox that grows more intricate with every turn, this expansion delivers on nearly all fronts. In conclusion, Beyond the Sword is not just a great expansion—it’s arguably the definitive way to play Civilization IV. It elevates an already outstanding game into a strategic epic that spans not just the centuries, but the depths of economic, diplomatic, and cultural decision-making. Deep, replayable, and endlessly engaging, it remains a high point in the Civilization franchise and a textbook example of how to do an expansion right. Rating: 8/10
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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.
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Civilization IV is honestly the greatest civilization to exist out of all of them. I only stopped playing it because I felt like I had to play the newer CIV versions. BtS expansion without a doubt is how Sid Meier originally conceptualized and is his Magnum Opus. Doom Stacks, Leonard Nimoy technology discovery narration, baba freaking yetu is the CIV IV theme song!!!!!!! So much customization in this game makes the newer versions feel so empty and lackluster. Religion was actually cool in this game and could cause world wars and defined friendships. In the newer CIVs that literally would never happen. The only thing I really liked from the newer Civs is the better AI, district planning, hex tiles, and city states. This game also had the vassalage and capitulation options like where the hell did that go in the newer ones that is one of my favorite features in this game. The graphics in this game are kinda aged but at least it doesn't feel like an 8 bit game and is good enough for 2025. If you think any other CIV could possibly be better then YOUR HEAD WOULD LOOK GOOD ON A POLE!!! >:3
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This game has been a lot of fun for me over the years. Mods added, it always changes dynamics and strategy and the whotnot.
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An absolutely perfect game, old, but a classic. New games which are meant to be an upgrade don't quite capture its beauty and nostalgia. I have been playing since I was a child, and continue to do so into adulthood. It is the perfect game, a mix of diplomacy and friendship and bitter betrayal and war. Beyond the Sword is my favourite edition. Love this game and would highly recommend!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.99€ on Steam.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword received 4,423 positive votes out of a total of 4,592 achieving an impressive rating of 9.27.
😍
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is not playable on Linux.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a single-player game.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword does not currently offer any DLC.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword does not support Steam Remote Play.
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 27 July 2025 00:26 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 22 July 2025 11:27 |
| Steam price | 29 July 2025 20:45 |
| Steam reviews | 29 July 2025 04:00 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
1,451
Developer
Firaxis Games
Publisher
2K
Release
24 Jul 2007
Platforms