IMHO.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII vs The Meter is Running

Sid Meier's Civilization VII and The Meter is Running both land in Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Simulation games on Steam. Sid Meier's Civilization VII (2025) is 1 year older than The Meter is Running (2026). The Meter is Running scores higher on Steam reviews (80% positive) than Sid Meier's Civilization VII (50.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Which should you pick?

Choose Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Choose Sid Meier's Civilization VII if you want a Strategy game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and LAN PvP. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 27,101 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose The Meter is Running

Choose The Meter is Running if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 80% positive across 180 reviews.

Both Sid Meier's Civilization VII and The Meter is Running sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Adjustable Text Size, Color Alternatives, and Camera Comfort, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.

Side-by-side comparison

Sid Meier's Civilization VII vs The Meter is Running — Steam metadata comparison
Sid Meier's Civilization VII — Steam game coverSid Meier's Civilization VIIThe Meter is Running — Steam game coverThe Meter is Running
Released20252026
GenresStrategy, SimulationIndie, Simulation
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedDeck Unsupported
Price69.99 USD6.30 USD
Steam reviews50.5% positive (27,101 reviews)80% positive (180 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-player, Cross-Platform MultiplayerSingle-player only
DevelopersFiraxis GamesDebt Driven Games

Side by side

Sid Meier's Civilization VII vs The Meter is Running — FAQ

Which is better, Sid Meier's Civilization VII or The Meter is Running?
On Steam reviews The Meter is Running scores higher (80% positive) than Sid Meier's Civilization VII (50.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Meter is Running is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play Sid Meier's Civilization VII or The Meter is Running first?
If you want chronology, Sid Meier's Civilization VII (2025) came out before The Meter is Running (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
Are Sid Meier's Civilization VII and The Meter is Running similar?
They overlap on Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
Does The Meter is Running have multiplayer like Sid Meier's Civilization VII?
No. Sid Meier's Civilization VII supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer), while The Meter is Running is listed as single-player only.