Prepare for Civilization 7 with this $3 Steam Summer Sale deal

One of the most exciting announcements for PC gaming fans during Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest live stream this year was for Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. It’s the next entry in a long-running turn-based strategy game series about building up and thriving as a civilization from scratch. Although Sid Meier’s Civilization VII does not come out until next year and doesn’t even get a full gameplay reveal until August, this year’s Steam Summer Sale provides players the perfect opportunity to catch up on the series.

Navigate to the Featured Deep Discounts section of the Steam Summer Sale and you’ll find that Sid Meier’s Civilization VI from Firaxis and 2K is available for just $3, a 95% discount from its typical $60 price tag. If you’ve never played a Civilization game before or want to familiarize yourself with the core tenets of the series ahead of its next entry, this Steam Summer Sale deal provides an optimal opportunity to check it out.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, like every other game in its series, serves as a centerpiece of the 4X strategy game subgenre. If you’re unfamiliar with that term, 4X is an abbreviation that applies to grand strategy games where the focus is to “explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate.” That gameplay loop is present in full force throughout Civilization VI. Players start by picking a Civilization, each of which has its own abilities and a unique historical figure as a leader. Standout leaders from the base version of Civilization VI include Cleopatra for Egypt, Gandhi for India, and Teddy Roosevelt for America.

After founding the first city at the start of the game, it’s up to players to do what’s necessary to make their civilization grow. This requires the creation of scout units that can explore, worker units that can upgrade and expand cities to give access to discovered resources, and various warrior units that can fight barbarians or other civilizations if need be. 4X and grand strategy games tend to get a little overwhelming,