Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Surprise! ‘Civilization VI’ is available on iPhone, and it’s on sale now

Steven Petite
By

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is now available on iPhone, Aspyr Media announced in a press release. The renowned turned-based strategy game becomes one of the most high-profile AAA games to land on smartphones.

iOS users have been able to play a stellar version of Civilization VI on iPad since December, but iPhone compatibility greatly expands the potential player base. In order to run Civ VI on iPhone, you need an iPhone 7/7 Plus, 8/8 Plus, or X. Curiously, the press release does not note the new iPhone XS but we imagine Civ VI will soon be able to run on the XS, if it doesn’t already.

Recommended Videos

Like with the iPad launch, Civ VI is heavily discounted for a limited time. From now until October 16, you can nab Civ VI on iOS for 60 percent off at $24. Yes, even the discount price is steep for a mobile game, but Civ VI is one of the best PC games in recent memory and doesn’t sacrifice anything in its move to iOS. Keep in mind that while Civ VI for iOS has been on sale a couple times since launch, it has never gone below $24 and it could be months before it wiggles away from its $60 tag once again. The price only covers the base game, though multiple DLC packs are available to purchase (but not the Rise & Fall expansion).

1 of 5
civilization vi iphone release civvi civforall
civilization vi iphone release civvi fullexperience ss
civilization vi iphone release civvi activeresearch
civilization vi iphone release civvi expansiveempires ss
civilization vi iphone release civvi dynamicdiplo

If you already own the iPad version, you don’t have to worry about re-purchasing for iPhone. As a universal app, you should be able to go into your purchases in the App Store and download Civ VI on your iPhone.

If you want to see how it plays on iPhone before you buy, you can download the game for free and play the first 60 turns. We’re excited to check it out ourselves on iPhone. Aspyr Media did a stellar job porting Firaxis’ brilliant sim. The sacrifice in screen size may take some getting used to, but it’s nice to have Civ VI playable on a decidedly more mobile device.

This isn’t the first time iPhone users have had the opportunity to play a Civilization game. Civilization Revolution, a spinoff, came to iOS in 2009. A sequel, Civilization Revolution 2, launched in 2014 and still regularly appears on the bestseller chart for simulation games. However, this is the first time smartphone users have received the full, unabridged Civilization experience.

Before long, Civilization VI will be playable on another portable platform. A Nintendo Switch version arrives November 16.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Steven Petite
Steven Petite
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…
Civilization VI: All 42 leaders and cultures
civilization vi leaders and cultures guide version 1518032917 header

Civilization VI is an extremely dense game, with countless bonuses for doing seemingly mundane things. Out of all the ways to improve your Civ VI strategy, understanding the cultures and leaders is the most important. After all, you don't want to push Kristina of Sweden to win with a Domination victory, or worse, push Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire toward a Science victory (yikes). To get you started on the right path, we've gathered all 42 civilizations, including the ones from DLC, so you can understand the best leader for your play style.

Note: Leader "agendas" are only in effect for civilizations that are not controlled by the player. Player-controlled leaders cannot operate independently, and therefore have no agenda.

Read more
The best simulation games for the iPhone
A player holding a Razer Kishi.

Whether you're a fan of simulation games -- games where you pretend to do things you could do in real life, from driving a truck to managing an ice cream stall -- or not, there's no denying they're the perfect escape. Score points by flinging a goat around, become a long-haul trucker, or develop and run a farm -- all from the comfort of your couch.

There's a plethora of simulation games out there to choose from, so how do you choose between the downright awesome games and those that are not so great ?  We know download regret is real, so we've picked some of the best simulation games for the iPhone, which means you don't have to waste time browsing the app store. There's something for everyone on our list, from animal-themed sims to games that let you experience what life's really like inside Fallout's Vaults.

Read more
Best free games for kids for Android and iPhone

The iPhone and Android aren't short on quality games for kids. Yes, even though gaming has become an increasingly "mature" pastime in recent years, it still produces plenty of titles to keep children of all ages entertained. In this article, we run through the best free games for kids on Android and iPhone. From educational titles to games that are simply fun to play, you'll be sure to find the right free kids games for your little ones, regardless of their ages.

However, before we begin, it's worth saying something about in-app purchases. While all of the 12 games on this list are free to download and play, some include in-app purchases. Basically, some games present players with the option to buy in-game items (e.g. clothing or "skins" for game characters) for real-world money. As such, you might want to also look at our guides on turning off in-app purchases for Android and iPhone/iPad.
Preschool children (age 2-5)
Funny Balloon

Read more