Sid Meier’s Civilization V

Sid Meier's Civilization V is a 2010 turn-based 4X strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games for Windows and macOS. The fifth main entry in the landmark Civilization series, it tasks players with guiding a civilization from a single settler in antiquity to a global power, pursuing victory through conquest, science, culture or diplomacy. Its defining change was the move from square tiles to a hexagonal grid and the abolition of unit 'stacking', so that only one military unit could occupy a tile; this transformed combat into a more deliberate, tactical affair and introduced ranged units and meaningful terrain. Other innovations included city-states as minor diplomatic actors, a streamlined interface and a social-policy system replacing the old civics. The game launched to strong reviews for its accessibility and refined design, and was substantially deepened by two major expansions: Gods & Kings, which restored religion and espionage, and Brave New World, which overhauled culture, trade routes and diplomacy. Backed by extensive modding support and the franchise's famous 'one more turn' addictiveness, Civilization V became one of the best-selling and most-played strategy games of its generation, and a frequent gateway into the genre, before being succeeded by Civilization VI in 2016.