Sid Meier's Civilization® IV vs Sid Meier's Civilization® V
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Sid Meier's Civilization® V wins 8 of 14 head-to-head metrics. Sid Meier's Civilization® IV is $6.20 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Sid Meier's Civilization® IV | Sid Meier's Civilization® V |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Worth It | 77 | 76 |
| Quality | 94 | 94 |
| Value | 99 | 70 |
| Popularity | 28 | 46 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $1.29 | $7.49 |
| Steam Review Score | 92.3% positive | 95.5% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 598 | 12.3K |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Sid Meier's Civilization® IV
Side by side over time
Sid Meier's Civilization® IVSid Meier's Civilization® V
Details and requirements
| Item | Sid Meier's Civilization® IV | Sid Meier's Civilization® V |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | October 25, 2006 | September 21, 2010 |
| Developers | Firaxis Games | Firaxis Games, Aspyr (Linux) |
| Publishers | 2K | 2K, Aspyr (Linux) |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOs | Linux, Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | — | Windows® Vista SP2/ Windows® 7 |
| Processor (minimum) | — | 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU |
| Memory (minimum) | — | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | — | 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better |
| DirectX® (minimum) | — | DirectX® version 11 |
| Hard Drive (minimum) | — | 8 GB Free |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Sid Meier's Civilization® IV or Sid Meier's Civilization® V?
Sid Meier's Civilization® V won the comparison against Sid Meier's Civilization® IV based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Sid Meier's Civilization® IV worth buying over Sid Meier's Civilization® V?
Based on the metrics, Sid Meier's Civilization® V won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Sid Meier's Civilization® IV currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 11:40 AM UTC