If Civilization 7 let you down, underrated 4X game Ara is getting a big overhaul

Ara History Untold was released at precisely the wrong moment. It was September 2024, just three months after the first trailer for Civilization 7. If it had arrived a year or so earlier, 4X fans who’d worn out Civ 6 might have been tempted to try something new. But with Firaxis’ sequel confirmed, a lot of people likely decided they’d just wait. Civilization 7 hasn’t quite met expectations, however, and although Stellaris, Endless Legend, and Songs of Silence put variations on the theme, it seems like we’re still waiting for a credible historical strategy game to rival the Sid Meier empire. Ara may have struggled at launch, but with a new studio in charge of post-release material, the upcoming DLC and dozens of free updates could catalyze a comeback.