This is the most fun I've had with Civilization since Civ IV, and the best late-game since Civ II. Brave New World is the rare case of a title delivering exactly what it promises.

Great new mechanics and features; Much greater diversity in play styles; Exciting endgame

Chugging performance; AI needs to vote smarter at World Congress

It can't be easy for a long-running game series to stay fresh after 19 years and several iterations of one general idea, yet Civilization has managed remarkably well. Through its first four versions, the quintessential PC strategy game has evolved from a habit-forming time-waster into a colorful and...

Addictive as ever; Some excellent game-play additions

Feels far more simplistic and less rich than previous Civilization titles; Changes to major mechanics will require significant readjustment time for veterans

While this second expansion for 2K Games' epic Civilization V is titled Brave New World , it has nothing to do with the novel by Aldous Huxley-or Shakespeare's play The Tempest , which is likely the origin of the phrase in popular culture.

Adds cultural victories to Civ V ; plus more wonders; nine new playable powers; plus a new Scramble for Africa scenario

Reuses old art in a bad way

Perhaps no video game better exemplifies the relativity of time than the Civilization series. When there are just three turns left until you finish the Hagia Sophia or enter a new era, they pass almost instantly, dismissed with the click of a button.

+Superb culture system

-Unrealised diplomacy

Civilization V has always had a problem: most of the fun is front-loaded. Finding your place in the world is the height of the game's enjoyment, and the feeling you get when you build your first ocean-faring vessel--breaking into the dark blue and seeing what else is out there in the world--is...

New mechanics are well integrated with old ones; Additions help create better mid-game content; Revamped Trade Routes change game for the better

Some new elements can be difficult to understand at first; Late game still isn't as interesting as exploration; Losing a few hundred more hours

Gods and Kings adds a lot to Civ 5: religion; espionage; proper naval combat; new civs, units & buildings; a redesigned tech tree (and, to a lesser extent, the social policy tree); and improved AI.

Improves everything; Religion works very well; Loads of new stuff

AI is still a bit dense; Espionage is flimsy

Civilization V has already had a Game of the Year Edition that contained new map packs and civilizations, but now the game is getting its first full-fledged expansion pack in Gods & Kings. But is it worth it? Read on to find out!

Adds new civilizations; new units; and new mechanics; Religion is implemented much better than in Civ IV; Very fun built-in scenarios; particularly" Empires of the Smoky Skies

Doesn't fix any of the underlying Civ V problems like lag or poor AI

Gods and Kings feels like Civ V is taking a step forward in some respects. The new espionage system is a worthy addition, and it smartly enhances the sorely lacking diplomacy of the original release.

Civ V is finally a builder's game Many times when I approach a new Civ adventure; I just want to plunk down in some corner of the world and erect impressive structures of culture and significance that last the ages.

Civ V is still fundamentally flawed At the core of the Civilization series is the management of a careful balance between expanding your empire and researching new technologies; maintaining a standing army; and improving diplomatic relations with other nations.

The bottom line is that if you've ever been into a Civilization game, or you could see yourself getting into a deliberately paced, strategic game of epic proportions, Civilization V will grab hold of your attention and not let go.

An excellent refinement of the classic Civ formula; beautiful graphics

A few odd omissions from multiplayer; some AI issues

Like its predecessors for earlier Civ games, Gods and Kings adds a mountain of content, and really does improve the game for the better in almost every way. After playing a game with the expansion, I think it would be difficult to return to the vanilla version of Civ V .

Lots of new content; religion well-implemented; weak spots of original reworked

No sci-fi scenario; new elements sometimes take over for old ones