I don’t think I’ve ever rounded up reviews of an expansion pack but few franchises are as iconic as Sid Meier’s Civilization series. Civilization V was roundly considered to be inferior to its predecessor Civilization IV by critics and fans alike. The Brave New World expansion is supposed to close the gap between Civ IV and Civ V. The critics say that Brave New World is mission accomplished.

GameSpot (95%): Brave New World taps into some of the darkest chapters of the long and storied history of our species, but presents them with respect, reverence, and a distinct sense of optimism for our uncertain future. This expansion is a fantastic accomplishment, and one that finally fulfills all of the potential of this chapter of the series.

The Escapist (90%): The sweeping changes to the Civilization V ruleset are both refreshing and familiar. Each of the updates feels like a logical evolution and are seamlessly integrated with the existing systems. Brave New World feels like Civ V Complete. No Civ fan should miss out on playing Brave New World and newcomers to the series won’t be disappointed.

Polygon (85%): It speaks to Civilization 5’s solid foundation that Brave New World’s wealth of new mechanics fit seamlessly and combine in occasionally unexpected (but never quite broken) ways. Firaxis could have played it safe and simply layered on more changes of clothes. Instead it took the strategy gaming bit between its teeth and launched the venerable franchise into some startlingly new territory, while keeping it fun, engaging and — remarkably — approachable.

GamesRadar (80%): All of the mechanics, new and old, work together to make the already amazing game even better. Brave New World might not feel incredibly new or brave, but it’s an impressive expansion that any Civilization V fan should enjoy.

VentureBeat (50%): Firaxis Games’ Civilization V, the latest iteration in the studio’s longest running and most popular PC strategy series, is a game mostly about filling up buckets, then emptying those buckets, collecting a prize, and taking back a slightly larger bucket to fill up again… Sometimes Civ V feels like it’s on autopilot, which isn’t the hallmark of a strategy game worth your time.