At its core, Civ VI is a "4X" game: eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate.

The player takes on the role of a historical leader—think Teddy Roosevelt, Cleopatra, or Hojo Tokimune—and starts with a single settler and a warrior in the year 4000 BC. Over the next several hours (or days), they build cities, research technologies (from pottery to nuclear fusion), develop cultures, and interact with other world leaders.

Victory isn't just about killing everyone else. You can win through:

Check out our guide on the different victory types in Civ VI

The game is a massive dopamine engine fueled by incremental progress. In Minecraft, the goals are self-directed. In Civ VI, the game is constantly giving you a "to-do" list:

This creates the "One More Turn" trap. Because something exciting is always just two or three minutes away, it is incredibly difficult for a developing brain (which already struggles with executive function) to find a natural stopping point. Unlike a match of League of Legends which has a definitive end, a single game of Civ can last 10 to 20 hours.

Let’s be real: Civ VI is basically a highly interactive history and geography encyclopedia.

Learn more about how strategy games build executive function

Absolutely not. If we’re ranking games on a scale from "Literal Garbage" to "Digital Tolstoy," Civ VI is firmly in the Tolstoy camp.

However, it’s not a perfect historical simulation. It’s a game. It simplifies complex geopolitical issues into "Warmonger penalties" and "yield icons." It also features a version of "Nuclear Gandhi"—a long-running inside joke in the franchise where the historically pacifist leader becomes a nuke-happy tyrant in the late game. It’s funny, but it’s a reminder that this is a caricature of history, not a documentary.

If your kid is interested in history or strategy, Civilization VI is the peak, but it might be too complex for younger kids or too time-consuming for some families. Here are some alternatives:

Ages 7-10 Think of this as "Civ Junior." It’s cute, low-poly, and a full game takes about 20 minutes instead of 20 hours. It’s a great way to see if your kid actually likes strategy games before dropping $60 on the full Civ experience.

Ages 8+ The classic "gateway" board game. It teaches the basics of resource management and trading without the screen time. If they love the "I need brick to build a road" aspect of Catan, they are ready for Civ.

Ages 12+ The biggest modern rival to Civilization. It allows players to "re-roll" their culture every era (e.g., starting as the Egyptians and evolving into the Vikings). It’s a bit more complex and visually stunning.

Ages 10+ If Civ is a chess match, Age of Empires is a sprint. It happens in real-time. It’s much more focused on military tactics and base building than long-term diplomacy.

Official Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and up) for Alcohol Reference, Tobacco Reference, and Fantasy Violence.

The Reality: The "violence" is very sanitized. You see little icons of soldiers poking each other with spears or tanks firing shells, but there’s no gore. The "Alcohol and Tobacco" references come from historical context (e.g., Wine and Tobacco are "Luxury Resources" you can trade).

The Complexity Barrier: The UI (User Interface) is dense. There are buttons, menus, and spreadsheets everywhere. A bright 8-year-old could play it, but they might get frustrated by the "Housing" or "Amenities" mechanics. Most kids find their stride with Civ around 6th or 7th grade.

Multiplayer: Civ VI can be played online. However, because games take so long, most kids play single-player against the AI. If they do play multiplayer, it’s usually with friends they already know. There is a chat function, but it’s not the toxic wasteland you’ll find in Call of Duty.

In-App Purchases: There are no "loot boxes." There are, however, several large expansion packs (Rise and Fall, Gathering Storm) and "Leader Passes." These add significant content to the game and are generally considered worth the money by the community, but keep an eye on the "Steam Sale" cravings.

Check out our guide on managing Steam and digital storefront spending

The biggest conflict you will have regarding Civ VI is transitions.

Because the game is turn-based, a kid will often say, "I just need to finish this turn!" and they actually mean it. But one turn can lead to another, and suddenly it’s 11:30 PM.

Pro-tip: Don't tell them to "quit" in the middle of a turn. Tell them, "Save the game after you finish researching [Current Tech] and then come to dinner." It gives them a concrete, in-game goal to hit before closing the laptop.

Instead of "Are you winning?", try asking:

These questions show you respect the complexity of what they’re doing. It also forces them to verbalize their strategy, which reinforces the "critical thinking" part of the brain.

Ask our chatbot for more conversation starters about strategy games

Civilization VI is a rare beast: a high-quality, educational, deeply engaging game that doesn't rely on cheap tricks or gambling mechanics to keep players interested. It rewards patience, planning, and curiosity.

If you can help your child manage the "One More Turn" impulse, you aren't just letting them play a video game—you're letting them run a simulation of the human experience. Just make sure they know that in the real world, you can't just restart the game if you forget to do your chores.