Save file · Civilization V
Civilization V
First release on record 21 Sep 2010 · turn-based strategy, 4X
Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game in which you lead a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age on a hexagonal map, using war, diplomacy, and research. Firaxis Games developed it. 2K publishes Windows; Aspyr publishes Mac and Linux. Steam dates release to 21 September 2010 and sells the US base game for $29.99, with a 16-item Complete bundle at $49.50 against a $137.38 combined list. The Mac App Store lists the same $29.99 base price plus paid in-app expansions. ESRB rates it Everyone 10+ for Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Mild Violence. It suits players who want a single-player or LAN and internet multiplayer empire game on Steam or the Mac App Store.
Researched from the official pages · Updated
| First release | 21 September 2010 (Windows, US Steam) |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux on Steam; separate Mac App Store build |
| Developer | Firaxis Games; Aspyr (Mac and Linux ports) |
| Publisher | 2K; Aspyr (Mac and Linux) |
| Price (US) | $29.99 base on Steam and Mac App Store; Steam Complete bundle $49.50 (64% off $137.38 list) · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Modes | Single-player; internet and LAN multiplayer; Hot Seat on Mac |
| Age rating | ESRB Everyone 10+ (Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence); USK 12; Steam lists PEGI 12 |
| PC needs | Publisher minimum: 2 GB RAM, 8 GB storage, DirectX 9.0c, Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz |
| Languages | 10 on Windows Steam (5 with full audio); 5 on Mac/Linux Steam; 3 on Mac App Store |
Where can I play Civilization V, and when did each version come out?
Steam sells Civilization V for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and Aspyr also directs Mac players to the Mac App Store. Firaxis Games developed it; 2K publishes it, and Aspyr published the Mac and Linux ports. Steam dates the US product to 21 September 2010, and Aspyr's Mac port page uses that same day. That Mac date differs from the 23 November 2010 Mac date in the Wikidata record. PEGI lists a PC date of 17 September 2010, while Wikidata listed 24 September 2010 for Europe. The official site calls it a September 2010 fifth mainline game that launched with 18 civilizations, hexagonal tiles, City-States, and research agreements, then added seven civilizations in first-year packs. Linux is on Steam; those pages do not give a separate Linux day, unlike Wikidata's 10 June 2014. No console store page was found.
How much does Civilization V cost, and which edition should I buy?
US Steam charges $29.99 for the base game with no sale. The Complete bundle of 16 items is $49.50 against a $137.38 combined list, a 64 percent discount with no end date shown. Gods and Kings and Brave New World are $29.99 each if bought alone. The Cradle of Civilization bundle is $9.99, with individual cradle maps at $2.99. The Mac App Store base game is $29.99, and its in-app expansions include both $29.99 expansions. Steam expansion keys do not work on the App Store version. For a full DLC set and online multiplayer on Mac, the Steam Complete bundle is the lower outlay.
What expansions and DLC does Civilization V have?
Two expansions change the ruleset. Gods and Kings (18 June 2012, $29.99) adds religion, spies, nine civilizations, nine wonders, three scenarios, 27 units, and 13 buildings. Brave New World (8 July 2013, $29.99) adds trade routes, archaeology, ideologies, the World Congress, nine civilizations, eight wonders, and two scenarios. Steam lists 15 downloadable items in total, among them Babylon (25 October 2010, $4.99), Spain and Inca (16 December 2010, $7.49), Polynesia (3 March 2011, $4.99), Denmark and Explorer's Map Pack (3 May 2011, $4.99 each), Korea and Wonders of the Ancient World (11 August 2011, $4.99 each), and Scrambled Continents (15 October 2013) and Scrambled Nations (5 November 2013) at $4.99 each. The Mac App Store sells overlapping packs; Spain and Inca is $6.99 there.
What hardware does Civilization V need on PC, Mac, and Linux?
2K's support page is the publisher source: 2 GB RAM, 8 GB free storage, DirectX 9.0c, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz, and a 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT, 256 MB NVIDIA 7900 GS, or Core i3 integrated GPU. Recommended is 4 GB RAM, a 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, DirectX 11, and a 512 MB ATI 4800 or NVIDIA 9800 class card. Publisher minimum still names Windows XP SP3; Steam's minimum starts at Windows Vista SP2 / Windows 7, and Steam says its client supports Windows 10 and later from 1 January 2024. Mac Steam lists macOS 10.12, 2 GB RAM, and 8 GB storage; Aspyr and the App Store list OS X 10.11 / 10.11.6, 2.2 GHz, and 10 GB, with 20 GB needed during App Store install. Linux needs SteamOS or Ubuntu 18.04 or newer, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB storage, and 1 GB of video memory. Install needs a one-time Steam authentication connection.
Can I play Civilization V with other people across Windows, Mac, and Linux?
Steam lists single-player and multi-player, including internet and LAN matches. Aspyr confirms Hot Seat and LAN on Mac App Store and Steam Mac, and says Mac online multiplayer exists only on Steam. Linux Steam can play with Windows and Mac Steam when those versions are in sync; Aspyr says Linux Steam does not crossplay with the Epic Games Store. During Steam updates, Mac and PC can desync so Mac players only match other Mac players. Steam Cloud is listed. Steam expansion keys do not transfer to the App Store, so DLC and saves are storefront-specific on Mac. Steam does not list controller support or a Steam Deck rating, and it does not publish a maximum player count. Aspyr names mouse and keyboard.
What age rating does Civilization V carry?
ESRB rates the game Everyone 10+ for Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Mild Violence, with online interactions not rated. The ESRB summary covers overhead combat, nuclear weapons, historical text about violence, a reference to the opium trade, and the word hell. USK rated the PC version 12 on 15 July 2010 (number 28215/10) without descriptors on that page. Steam includes a PEGI 12 mark. PEGI's own search lists the PC game on 17 September 2010 without descriptors on that result. The Mac App Store shows 13+ with Infrequent Realistic Violence. The Wikidata record's PEGI 12 and USK 12 labels match Steam and USK; ESRB's descriptors are the detailed content notes.
Release dates by platform
| Platform | Date | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows | 21 Sep 2010 | United States | Released |
| Microsoft Windows | 17 Sep 2010 | Europe | Released |
| macOS | 21 Sep 2010 | United States | Released |
| Microsoft Windows | Sep 2010 | Worldwide | Released |
Prices and editions
| Store | Edition | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (US) | Sid Meier's Civilization V (base) | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Steam (US) | Sid Meier's Civilization V: Complete (16-item bundle) | $49.50 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Steam (US) | Gods and Kings | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Steam (US) | Brave New World | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Steam (US) | Cradle of Civilization DLC Bundle | $9.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mac App Store (US) | Civilization V (base) | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mac App Store (US) | Brave New World (in-app) | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mac App Store (US) | Gods and Kings (in-app) | $29.99 | 29 Oct 2026 |
Prices change often; each is the store's own price on the day shown.
PC requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2, or Windows 7 and above | Windows Vista SP2 or Windows 7 and above |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.0 GHz | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU |
| Memory | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Graphics | 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB NVIDIA 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics | 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, or 512 MB NVIDIA 9800 series or better |
| Video memory | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| DirectX | 9.0c | 11 |
From the publisher's own page, read 29 Oct 2026; summarised in our own words.
Modes and features
| Feature | On record | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Single-player | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Online multiplayer | Yes; internet (TCP/IP). Steam does not publish a maximum player count. | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Local multiplayer | LAN (TCP/IP); Hot Seat on Mac App Store and Steam Mac | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Crossplay | Steam Windows, Mac, and Linux can play together when those builds are in sync. Mac App Store has no online multiplayer. Aspyr says Linux Steam does not crossplay with the Epic Games Store. | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Cross-progression | Steam expansion keys are not compatible with the Mac App Store version | macOS |
| Controller support | Not listed among Steam features. Aspyr lists mouse and keyboard. | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck rating | Not shown on the Steam store page | Windows |
| Cloud saves | Steam Cloud listed | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Supported languages | 10 on Windows Steam (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish-Spain with full audio; also Polish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Traditional Chinese). Mac and Linux Steam: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish only. Mac App Store: English, French, German. | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Family Sharing | Listed on Steam | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Remote Play on Tablet | Listed on Steam | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| PC demo | Steam lists a downloadable PC demo | Windows |
DLC and expansions
| Name | Released | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods and Kings | 18 Jun 2012 | $29.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Sid Meier's Civilization V: Brave New World | 08 Jul 2013 | $29.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civilization V - Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II) | 25 Oct 2010 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civilization V: Cradle of Civilization - DLC Bundle | 30 Nov 2010 | $9.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cradle of Civilization Map Pack: Americas | 30 Nov 2010 | $2.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cradle of Civilization Map Pack: Asia | 30 Nov 2010 | $2.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cradle of Civilization Map Pack: Mediterranean | 30 Nov 2010 | $2.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cradle of Civilization Map Pack: Mesopotamia | 30 Nov 2010 | $2.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civ and Scenario Double Pack: Spain and Inca | 16 Dec 2010 | $7.49 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civ and Scenario Pack: Polynesia | 03 Mar 2011 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civ and Scenario Pack: Denmark (The Vikings) | 03 May 2011 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Explorer’s Map Pack | 03 May 2011 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Civ and Scenario Pack: Korea | 11 Aug 2011 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Scenario Pack: Wonders of the Ancient World | 11 Aug 2011 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Scrambled Continents Map Pack | 15 Oct 2013 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Scrambled Nations Map Pack | 05 Nov 2013 | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mac App Store: Double Civilization and Scenario Pack Spain and Inca | — | $6.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
| Mac App Store: Cradle of Civilization Map Pack Bundle | — | $4.99 · checked 29 Oct 2026 |
Age ratings
| Board | Rating | Content descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| ESRB | Everyone 10+ | Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB |
| USK | 12 | — |
| PEGI | 12 | — |
| IARC | 13+ | Infrequent Realistic Violence |
FAQ
Is there a demo?
Steam lists a downloadable PC demo on the base-game page. The Gods and Kings Steam page says that expansion's demo is available on PC only.
Does Civilization V still use a separate launcher?
As of 18 November 2024, 2K support says the original launcher is gone. Steam launch options are DirectX 9 (default), DirectX 10/11, and Touch, and can be changed in the game's Steam Properties. A desktop shortcut still opens the DirectX 9 default unless you point it at another executable.
Which languages can I play in?
Steam lists 10 Windows languages, with full audio in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish (Spain), plus Polish, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Traditional Chinese. Mac and Linux Steam builds are English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish only. The Mac App Store lists English, French, and German. Aspyr's marketing language table also ticks Japanese and Russian for Mac and Linux, which those FAQs and Steam do not.
Does the game need a constant internet connection?
2K support says initial installation needs a one-time internet connection for Steam authentication, plus acceptance of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. Online multiplayer needs a network. The pages do not describe single-player as always-online. Special online features may need an account for ages 13+.
Can I install mods?
Steam says a Modding SDK is available as a free download and that mods can be installed from an in-game community hub without leaving the game.
Our take
If you want both expansions and the listed packs in one library, buy the US Steam Complete bundle at $49.50 rather than stacking $29.99 expansions. Choose Steam on Mac if you want internet multiplayer and a shared DLC pool with Windows and Linux when builds match. Use the Mac App Store only if you prefer Apple billing and accept Hot Seat, LAN, three languages, and in-app DLC that will not accept Steam keys. Confirm Windows 10 for the Steam client, the Mac 10.11 versus 10.12 split, and 8 GB to 20 GB of free disk space. There is no subscription. Read the ESRB Everyone 10+ drug, language, and violence notes before buying for a younger player.
Best for: Players who want the 2010 hexagonal-map Civilization ruleset on PC; Buyers who want Gods and Kings, Brave New World, and the listed packs in one Steam library; Mac and Linux players who will use Steam for online multiplayer.
Not for: Anyone looking for a console edition of this game; Mac App Store buyers who expected Steam DLC keys to transfer; Players who need a published maximum player count or a Steam Deck rating on the store page.
Which version: US Steam Complete bundle at $49.50, unless you only want the Mac App Store and can accept its in-app DLC and lack of Steam-key transfer.
Built only from the official facts above. We don't review games we haven't played, and nothing here is paid.
Sources
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- 2K / Firaxis read 29 Oct 2026
- 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- ESRB read 29 Oct 2026
- USK read 29 Oct 2026
- Apple / Aspyr read 29 Oct 2026
- Aspyr read 29 Oct 2026
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- Aspyr read 29 Oct 2026
- PEGI read 29 Oct 2026
- Aspyr read 29 Oct 2026
- Valve / 2K read 29 Oct 2026
- 2K read 29 Oct 2026
The record
Every line has its source and the day it was read- Dates on record
- 21 Sep 2010 Wikidata · read 26 Oct 2026
- Developer
- Firaxis GamesWikidata · role not verified
- Publishers on record
- 2K, Aspyr Wikidata
- Genres
- turn-based strategy video game, 4X Wikidata
- Modes
- single-player, multiplayer, co-op mode Wikidata
- Age ratings on record
- Wikidata
- Series
- Civilization Wikidata
- Platforms on record
- WindowsmacOSLinux on Wikidata. A platform missing here is not proof it is absent.
Facts: Wikidata Q2385 (CC0), revision 2559537377, read 26 Oct 2026, researched by VGKami Games Research (VGK-WIKIDATA-CENTRE-20261028-V3d). Spotted a wrong fact? Tell us.