Ara: History Untold is a turn-based 4X game that competes with Sid Meier’s Civilization. The game features animated towns and cities, a tech tree split into three acts of four ages each, and historical leaders in a 3D style. However, the game lacks tools to make players feel like true world leaders. The game’s view of history is similar to its 4X predecessors, starting from Neolithic times and progressing through a tech tree based mostly on Europe and its colonial offshoots. One unique aspect is that the futuristic era focuses more on general AI, transhumanism, and cybernetics rather than space travel. Ara allows players to select from an array of historical leaders with bonuses that are passive and underwhelming. Additionally, there are no culturally unique units tied to leader choices. The procedurally-generated worlds are visually enthralling, but road-building tends to create nonsensical tangles, and performance can suffer in the late game. One of the game’s most interesting innovations is its goods-based manufacturing economy. Players can harvest and refine resources to produce goods, which can then be used to enhance productivity or provide temporary benefits to cities. However, managing this economy becomes overwhelming as the game progresses, especially with multiple cities. Combat in Ara is automatic, with some tactical decision-making involved. Engagements play out in full 3D, but the animations can lose their appeal over time. The game also includes a knockout mechanic that removes players with the least accumulated Prestige after reaching certain ages, streamlining the later eras to just a handful of great powers. Diplomacy in Ara is basic, allowing for actions such as sending gifts, declaring wars, and forming alliances. Trade can be useful in the early game, but it requires heavy commitment to have a significant impact later on. Government, religion, and advisers in the game primarily provide numerical modifiers without unlocking new playstyles or ways to solve problems. In conclusion, Ara: History Untold offers a visually appealing take on the 4X genre with its animated towns and cities and unique futuristic era. However, the game falls short in providing meaningful tools for players to feel like influential world leaders. The goods-based manufacturing economy, while innovative, becomes overwhelming to manage as the game progresses, and the combat and diplomacy mechanics are relatively basic. Despite its competent challenge to Sid Meier’s Civilization, Ara: History Untold may leave players wanting more depth and complexity in its gameplay mechanics.