Ara: History Untold

"At first glance, comparisons to Sid Meier’s Civilization might seem inevitable, but they miss the mark when you dig deeper into what Ara: History Untold truly offers. While the surface similarities are there, the game’s innovative mechanics and fresh approach …"

"ARA: History Untold is one of the games that I was excited about when it was first announced, and even though I didn&s;t know the development team, after the game was released and I spent a lot of time playing …"

"Ara: History Untold launches itself into the 4X landscape with boldness, bringing with it some intriguing innovations. Although the game introduces the prestige system and non-hexagonal maps, at its core it remains true to the structure of many other congeners."

"Ara: History Untold is a decent foray into the historical 4X, with enough borrowed and slightly tweaked elements to make it worth a look for fans of the genre. Its original ideas become too much of a slog however, along …"

"ARA: History Untold has all the ingredients to become a benchmark in the genre. Its innovative mechanics, such as simultaneous turns, the non-linear technology tree and the prestige system, give it a fresh air that distinguishes it from other strategy …"

"Ara: History Untold is an essential game for those who love strategy, history and complex decisions."

"An enticing strategy game that caters mostly to those who love to develop a culture and bringing it throught the eras. Deep and complex just at the right degree."

"Although the detailed management of endgame item production can be a little time-consuming, the performance could be better, and diplomacy could be implemented in a more elegant way, the game offers complex systems that are rewarding to get into. I …"

"In the end, it&s;s a successful Civilization clone that excels in some ways and falls a little short in others. And the game is also graphically pleasing. It is definitely worth trying."

"Ara: History Untold is a great discovery, with a solid foundation and excellent ideas. Thanks to its attention to detail, comprehensive city management, and numerous unique features (territory management, a non-traditional turn-based system, etc.), this 4X game has all the …"

"Ara: History Untold is a complex strategy at times, and while there’s still so much I haven’t mentioned, you’re given plenty of help along the way. Some explanations could be a little clearer as I got overwhelmed at times with …"

"Ara: History Untold is a highly ambitious 4X game that looks to branch out and add even more depth to an already detailed genre. In many ways, it succeeds, bringing in a map and city-building system that far surpasses others …"

"Ara: History Untold was supposed to be that game capable of making you forget Civilization VI after about eight years, but even this time we will wait for the seventh chapter to throw away our lives one turn at a …"

"Ara: History Untold tweaks the Civilization formula, but doesn&s;t change it all that much. While it&s;s a well polished experience, I&s;m not sure it does enough to push the genre forward, settling instead to do what it does well. That …"

"Oxide Games seeks to make a place for itself in the 4X strategy with ARA: History Untold, a title that presents several interesting ideas with which it seeks to make a difference with respect to its peers. It&s;s clear that …"

"Ara: History Untold brings city-building to Civilization with strategic success."

"Ara: History Untold makes meaningful contributions to the well-worn grand strategy genre at every turn, even if the absurdities of its mix-and-match approach to history can be hard to swallow."

"Ara: History Untold is not "just" another Civilization clone, although it looks like one. It carries its core from that legendary series, but it also brings some interesting mechanics that expand the complexity to a new level. However, it does, …"

"Ara: History Untold is a bold and terrific first game from an interesting studio. I think their sequel will be better. For now, this is a solid title to tide you over until Civilization 7 launches next year. Next time, …"

"ARA: History Untold is an incredibly deep game, but one that might be too slow and cumbersome for anyone who isn’t a diehard fan of the genre."

"While Ara: History Untold is a visually captivating historical 4X with an interesting underlying economy, it gets bogged down well before the midway point."

"We feel like we&s;ve only scratched the surface with Ara: History Untold even after thousands of turns and multiple games, but this is a fun take on this type of experience and a great choice if you&s;re looking for an …"

"Ara: History Untold is an ambitious 4X strategy that introduces a fresh approach to civilization management. With innovative mechanics, such as the absence of the classic technology tree and irregular regions instead of hexes, it offers a more dynamic and …"

"Ara: History Untold doesn’t totally reinvent the grand strategy genre, but the changes it makes help create a fresh, engaging, and fun experience. All 4X games are dense with mechanics, decisions, and weighty outcomes. Ara: History Untold does a good …"

"Ara: History Untold doesn&s;t really do anything new, but it takes good ideas from so many games and combines them in a meaningful way that fans of Civ, Millennia or Humankind will definitely have fun with. However, some of the …"

"Ara: History Untold brings a fresh breeze to the 4X strategy genre, but it comes with plenty of room for improvement. Although the developers aimed to blend city-building with military strategy, the execution feels a bit clumsy. Oxide Studios has …"

"Ara: History Untold is taking players across history in a massive strategy adventure, but while it may do some unique things, something is missing."

"Ara: History Untold is a surprisingly tempting turn-based strategy; it brings in a lot of ideas, really good ones at that. But it also leaves you feeling a strange sensation of emptiness. The game has a lot of content, but …"

"I’m certain that many fans of Civilization will quickly abandon playing ARA: History Untold. No Civ demands such careful consideration of the smallest details and micro-dependancies from the player. You need to ask yourself: do you want to conquer lands …"

"ARA: History Untold may not quite measure up to the Civilization series as of now, but despite its shortcomings, it remains a memorable and engaging title that will satisfy fans of turn-based 4X strategy games. Considering that ARA is still …"

"Ara: History Untold aims to challenge Civilization and other 4X strategy giants by emphasizing resource management, but its overwhelming micromanagement slows the experience. While the game boasts impressive visuals and complex production chains, its tedious optimization, lackluster diplomacy, and simplistic …"

"A beautifully presented and accessible game in a sometimes obscure genre, Ara: History Untold is a pretty picture book rather than a deep tome."

"Ara: History Untold takes strides in pushing the boundaries of the 4X genre to new and exciting places. While it stumbles in its execution, it offers glimpses of an exciting future for the genre. If you’re a patient strategist willing …"

"Strategy games needed new ideas, and Ara has a few of them if you&s;re patient and play."

"Much like most civilisation-building games, there is a tactical side to it too. You will, at times, be invaded or need to smoose with other nations to form allyships. Will you sacrifice precious resources with them to become friends, or …"

"Ara: History Untold is another distinctive take on the historical 4X strategy genre, putting a real emphasis on furthering your nation, managing supply chains and resources, and shifting the focus away from warring mentality it&s;s so easy to sink into. …"

"Despite a few issues, I still think Ara: History Untold is some of the most fun I’ve had with a 4X historical nations game that wasn’t Civilization. Oxide Studios clearly knew the assignment and they aced on a number of …"

"I’m glad there’s another historical 4X on the block - and for those of you who want something a bit meatier than Civ, I think this can fit the bill. ARA: History Untold is bold, innovative and exciting - but …"

"Ara: History Untold is challenging the heavy hitters in a very competitive genre, but stands out thanks to its unique approach to 4X grand strategy and innovative mechanics. It&s;s a gorgeous and polished turn-based strategy game that hooks you with …"