To say that it fell short is a gross understatement. Alpha Centauri is one of the greatest games of all time. Beyond Earth isn't even a good Civilization game.

To say that it fell short is a gross understatement. Alpha Centauri is one of the greatest games of all time. Beyond Earth isn't even a good Civilization game. There are very, very few games out there that have something to say about philosophy. Alpha Centauri is a tour de force. It lets you explore many different philosophies of government and societal ethics. It continues the conversation that began with Plato's Republic, a multi-millennia-old debate about what constitutes an ideal society. It lets you experiment and build your own vision of utopia, while clashing with other visionary founders and their competing ideas. It's absolutely fascinating and addictive stuff! I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys thinking about philosophy, as well as anyone who enjoys 4X games.