Gathering Storm is an expansion pack to the 4X turn-based strategy game, Civilization VI, developed by Firaxis Games and released in October 2016 by 2K Games. The expansion pack was released in February 2019 and it expands the base game by adding new playable civilizations, new leaders, units, wonders, and new gameplay mechanics, such as the environmental effects and the World Congress.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Contents

Gathering Storm introduces several new mechanics to the base game, with the most important one being the environmental changes. From now on you need to take nature into account when planning your actions, as ignoring it may have fatal consequences not only for your own civilization but for the entire planet. Volcanoes, storms, blizzards, and the increasing temperature that may lead to melting the ice caps, resulting in raising the water level and massive floods – now not only other civilizations are your rivals, but nature itself.

Another major feature is the World Congress, where leaders can discuss the most important topics in order to deal with global issues. Leaders can vote for or against various resolutions and gather during special sessions dedicated to global warming and other emergency situations. The expansion pack features several new unique civilizations and leaders, giving you even more ways to enjoy the game. It also adds 21st Century technologies, new scenarios, and engineering projects that may be useful in dealing with natural disasters.

Story

CIV 6 Gathering Storm expansion pack does not feature a story. Instead, it gives you the possibility to develop one of the several entirely new civilizations across millennia, including Hungarian and Canadian.

Reception

Gathering Storm met with positive response and received critical acclaim, mainly for the introduction of the environmental changes, adding a new strategic element to the gameplay that serves as another thing players need to keep an eye on during play, now having not only other civilizations to compete with but nature itself. Reviewers also praised game’s visuals and the new playable civilizations

Key features:

• Become one of 9 new leaders and take control over one of 8 new civilizations
• Deal with global warmth and other natural disasters, including volcanoes, storms, and blizzards
• Discuss the most important matters with other leaders in the World Congress
• Discover new technologies and civics, thanks to the new 21st Century era
• Enjoy many lesser improvements, including enhanced espionage system and updated Science and Culture Victories conditions