Civilization 7 has encountered a rocky start, currently sitting at ‘mixed’ reviews on Steam. This is a stark contrast to its predecessor, which boasts a ‘very positive’ rating from over 100,000 community critiques. While initial reactions to the earlier title may not have been overwhelmingly positive, the current sentiment surrounding the latest installment has sparked a longing for the golden age of 4X games. Amidst this backdrop, a curious gem has emerged: CivIdle. A creation from FishPond at Fish Pond Studio, it captures attention in a way that is both unexpected and delightful.
What Makes CivIdle Unique
CivIdle is precisely what one might envision—a leisurely interpretation of Sid Meier’s Civilization that operates quietly in the background, accompanied by music that seamlessly blends into a chill work playlist. Players can engage at their convenience, guiding their civilizations through tech trees and across continents, engaging in trade and warfare based on personal ambitions and diplomatic choices. Historical figures such as J. P. Morgan and Florence Nightingale provide unique Production and Happiness bonuses, allowing players to navigate through eras from the Bronze Age to the Information Age. It’s akin to a creative endeavor by an IT professional tinkering in Excel, striving to appear industrious while a supervisor strolls by.
Initially made playable just two years ago, CivIdle recently announced its transition from patch 0.28 to 1.0, with the new update released just yesterday. This development suggests a more straightforward journey ahead, reminiscent of a quick trip to the local shops rather than the convoluted paths often taken by early access titles.
Visually, CivIdle stands apart. Its muted color palette and hex-based world evoke a sense of nostalgia, lacking the lush landscapes and vast oceans typically found in similar games. Instead, it offers a minimalist aesthetic that is both simple and complex. The side menus evoke memories of perusing a limited world encyclopedia from a 700MB CD-ROM, while the gray, blocky windows remind players of the bygone days of Windows XP and Vista. Scrolling through the intricate tech trees may trigger recollections of high school database management, with icons that seem to belong to the vaporware of early 2000s educational software.
However, there’s no need to dust off outdated programming skills when navigating potential conflicts, even if Ghandi decides to escalate tensions. CivIdle has garnered positive feedback, with nearly 50 recent reviews pushing it closer to a ‘very positive’ rating. Steam’s recommendation, based on my affinity for titles like Against the Storm, made it hard to resist exploring this unique offering.
With Mr. FishPond hinting at future expansions—such as an interplanetary version of CivIdle featuring a more contemporary user interface—there’s much to look forward to. Best of all, CivIdle is entirely free to play. What initially appeared to be a demo on Steam is, in fact, the complete game. Players can choose to support the developer with a Supporter Pack, and for a modest .50, cross-platform cloud saves can be unlocked, allowing users to enjoy the nostalgic aesthetics of early 2000s Windows CE on their smartphones. It’s a charming throwback that resonates with many.
