Unveiling the Untold Secrets of Ara: An Epic Journey to Fill the Void Before Civ 7 Arrives

Highlights

Ara History Untold could be a strong contender in the grand strategy genre, following in the footsteps of Civilization with its addictive formula.

Developed by former Firaxis developers, Ara History Untold has the capability to fulfill the void for avid fans eagerly anticipating Civilization 7.

Featuring a distinctive layer of strategy through its simultaneous turn-based gameplay, Ara History Untold necessitates players to anticipate and respond to their opponents' actions beforehand.

When it comes to the grand strategy genre, few games can rival Civilization. Since its debut in 1991, the Civilization franchise has allowed players to step into the shoes of iconic historical leaders and build their own thriving civilizations. With the goal of achieving victory through military, scientific, cultural, economic, or religious means, Civilization has remained unmatched in its addictive formula, despite attempts by other strategy games to replicate its success. However, Ara History Untold may be one of the few imitators that has the potential to live up to the Civilization legacy.

Announced in June 2022 during the Xbox Showcase, Ara History Untold is a grand strategy game that clearly draws inspiration from Civilization. What sets it apart from other imitators is the talent and experience behind its development. Created by Oxide Games, some of the developers working on Ara History Untold are former members of Firaxis, the studio responsible for Civilization. With Civilization 7 still a ways off, Ara History Untold could serve as the perfect interim experience for fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in the grand strategy series.

Ara History Untold Could Be The Ideal Stop-Gap For Civilization Fans

Civilization 7 was announced casually in February of this year by Firaxis and 2K. The official statement confirmed the development of the next grand strategy franchise entry. Since then, Firaxis has maintained silence regarding Civilization 7, with no details released about the release date, gameplay mechanics, or the inclusion of world leaders. Due to this lack of information and the increasing time taken between entries, it is likely that Civilization 7 is still a year or two away from release. This presents an opportunity for competitors like Ara History Untold to offer a similar experience and capture the market.

Ara History Untold, unveiled in 2022, clearly draws inspiration from Civilization. Players will select real-world leaders, establish cities, advance technology, construct Wonders, engage in warfare, and enhance their civilization's culture, population, and economy, aiming for victory against other civilizations. Ara's diplomacy system allows for negotiation with other civilizations, which is reminiscent of Civilization. While Ara follows a similar gameplay loop, it also offers unique features and surprises.

The main difference between Ara History Untold and Civilization lies in their approach to turn-based design. In Civilization, players take turns to complete their actions sequentially, such as moving, attacking, and building. However, in Ara History Untold, turns occur simultaneously. While each player still has a limited number of actions they can take at once, all players complete their actions at the same time, adding a unique layer of strategy not found in Civ. In Ara, it's not sufficient to merely react to an opponent's actions; players must anticipate and respond to their enemy's movements and actions well in advance.

During the Gamescom Opening Night Live showcase, Ara History Untold unveiled its first gameplay trailer and announced a release date of 2024. Although it's uncertain whether Ara will launch earlier or later in the year, this 2024 release date could potentially precede the arrival of Civilization 7, which may still be several years away. If Ara is released well in advance of Civilization 7, it could satisfy the cravings of fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in Firaxis' series.

Ara: History Untold is set for a 2024 release for PC.