Civilization: Beyond Earth Demo Finally Lands On Steam

In Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, players finally get to take the long-running simulation franchise into the stars, shaking free from the Earth's pull and venturing into areas never before seen by the series. In case you were curious what this “one giant leap” for the series has in store for its players, there's now a demo available for download via Steam.

That's right, boys and girls, the Beyond Earth demo is now ready for download, giving you a chance to try before you buy when it comes to the latest Civilization game. In case the game's Metacritic score of 82 wasn't quite enough to convince you that this game will be your cup of tea, you can now take it for a test run at no charge.

“As part of an expedition sent to find a home beyond Earth, lead your people into a new frontier, explore and colonize an alien planet and create a new civilization in space,” reads the game's official description. “As you embark on your journey you must make critical decisions. From your choice of sponsor and the make-up of your colony, to the ultimate path you choose for your civilization, every decision opens up new possibilities.” You can check out nearly an hour's worth of gameplay of the demo in a Total Biscuit playthrough video below.

The Civilization series has been around for quite a while but, in the past, the game's have always been limited to Earth. You pick a civilization, then build it up through the ages as you determine its religion, diplomatic paths, industry, allies and enemies. Beyond Earth asks the question “what happens next,” allowing the player to make all sorts of new decisions (and deal with their new consequences) when mankind finally leaves its home world.

Beyond Earth boasts eight sponsors to choose from when setting out on your adventure, each with its own advantages, disadvantages and ideals. When you arrive on an alien world, you'll have the opportunity to set up a colony, creating decision paths and technology webs never before seen in the series.

From the planet's surface, you'll also be able to guide the type of civilization you are creating by keeping an eye on the stars. Working within the orbital layer, you can craft military, scientific or economic satellites to help guide and strengthen your ever-growing population. There's also unit customization and mod support, meaning you'll be able to craft the experience to your liking.

Finally, how about some multiplayer options? In Beyond Earth, up to eight players can battle for superiority on an alien world, allowing you to take the battle in bold new directions as you struggle to determine who has the right to call their new world home.

Look for the Civilization: Beyond Earth demo on Steam and, if you like what you see, you can drop 40 bucks to add it to your collection.