Sid Meier’s Civilization VII made a strong impression with its debut gameplay at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but gamers will have to wait until next February for its release. Luckily, there is a fantastic alternative coming next month from Oxide Studios and Xbox Games Studios Publishing after seven years of development. This alternative is Ara: History Untold, which I had the opportunity to play hands-on for over an hour at a Xbox event near Gamescom in Los Angeles.
While initially overwhelming, as most 4X games tend to be, the more I played Ara: History Untold, the more I appreciated its intricacies. With thoughtful design decisions, Oxide Studios has taken a familiar strategy subgenre and added tweaks to make the experience of growing a civilization feel even more personal and rewarding. Although mastering the game will require some time reading through glossaries and tutorials, I am excited to dive deeper into it.
In Ara: History Untold, the goal is to grow and expand a nation throughout history with a span of 750 turns. The essence of 4X gameplay—Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate—is well represented in this game. During my demo, focused on the explore, expand, and exploit aspects, I chose a historical figure like Tokugawa Ieyasu as my leader, with unique military attributes. As the game progressed, intricate decisions had to be made in order to strategically place farms, workshops, and quarries to maximize resources and productivity.
Unlike most 4X games that have rigid tile systems, Ara: History Untold encourages players to carefully plan every growth-related decision. This level of detail and customization makes the process of civilization building more engaging and immersive. Managing relationships with neighboring tribes, expanding territories, unlocking buffs and bonuses added layers of complexity that made each city feel unique and personal.
While Ara: History Untold boasts well-designed systems, it may not be the most approachable game initially. It requires some time to grasp its mechanics and nuances, even for seasoned 4X players. However, for those who enjoy delving into the intricacies of building civilizations, Ara: History Untold offers a rewarding experience. With features like multiplayer support and potential for long-term engagement, the game has the potential to appeal to hardcore strategy game enthusiasts.
Despite the learning curve, once I settled into the gameplay, Ara: History Untold met all the expectations of a top-tier 4X game. As a niche title catering to dedicated fans of the genre, it fills a gap in the market until the release of Civilization VII. Scheduled for release on September 24 for PC, Ara: History Untold promises to offer a deep and immersive strategy gaming experience.
