Many strategy game enthusiasts find themselves drawn to the engaging simplicity of Catan. Its blend of resource management, strategic placement, and a touch of luck creates a board game experience that’s both accessible and replayable. However, when transitioning to video games, particularly within the Civilization series, some players might find themselves seeking a similar strategic feel, only to discover a sense of over-simplification. One such player, reflecting on their time with Civilization V (Civ V), noted some striking, albeit potentially unwanted, similarities to Catan.
One of the most immediately apparent parallels drawn between Civ V and Catan lies in their visual representation. The hexagonal tiles that form the game board in Catan are mirrored in Civ V’s strategic view. This visual cue might initially evoke a sense of familiarity for Catan players. Furthering this comparison, the original player highlighted the repetitive nature of trading luxury resources with AI leaders in Civ V. Just as in Catan where players barter for resources, in Civ V, consistent trades of resources like Pearl for Incense or Gold for Wine can become a dominant gameplay loop. In their experience, these trades became so predictable – dealing with the same three civilizations every 30 turns on a standard archipelago map – that it mirrored the somewhat fixed economic interactions of a board game.
However, beneath this surface similarity, the strategic depth diverges significantly. In Catan, road building is crucial for expansion and resource access. Conversely, the player observed that road construction in Civ V feels far less impactful. As long as cities are connected, the logistical concerns of resource transportation seem minimized. The intricate network building that defines part of Catan’s strategy is diminished in Civ V, where internal infrastructure appears less critical and external trade routes are easily established through simple trade windows, rather than necessitating physical road connections to other empires. The strategic importance of roads for military movement and defense, another key element in many strategy games, also feels downplayed in Civ V, where unit limitations in forts further reduce the incentive for extensive road networks.
This simplification extends to the overall gameplay experience. The player described Civ V as feeling “very basic and rigid,” echoing the structured nature of Catan. While Catan’s charm lies in its streamlined rules, this simplicity can feel limiting in a complex 4X video game. The strategic view in Civ V, with its clear hex grid, visually reinforces this comparison to a board game, potentially contributing to a sense of reduced strategic complexity for players expecting a deeper experience.
In contrast to earlier iterations of the Civilization franchise, the player expressed a feeling of diminished direct control over their empire’s development in Civ V. They described a sense of being on “auto-pilot,” primarily engaged in routine tasks like renewing trade agreements and managing a limited military force. The critical decisions regarding city development and specialization, often a hallmark of Civilization games, seemed less impactful. The urgency to construct specific buildings, a common element in previous titles where city walls or harbors could be vital for survival or economic prosperity, was noticeably absent. The player noted a lack of necessity for defensive structures, advanced military buildings, or even basic economic infrastructure in many city types, further contributing to the feeling of strategic shallowness.
Despite these criticisms, the player admitted to continued engagement with Civ V, driven primarily by the pursuit of achievements rather than inherent gameplay depth. This reliance on extrinsic rewards suggests a potential disconnect between the game’s design and intrinsic player motivation. The core issue, as identified by the player, is a lack of emergent gameplay and strategic novelty in repeated playthroughs. Each game of Civ V, in their experience, felt predictable and devoid of surprises, resembling the fixed rules and limited variability of a standard board game, rather than the dynamic and evolving scenarios expected from a 4X strategy video game.
For players seeking strategy games that move beyond the streamlined mechanics reminiscent of Catan but desire a deeper, more unpredictable, and strategically rich experience, exploring other titles within and beyond the 4X genre might prove more rewarding. These games often offer greater complexity in areas such as economic management, technological progression, diplomatic interactions, and military strategy, providing the kind of strategic depth that can keep players engaged and discovering new possibilities game after game.
