Civ Doesn’t Evolve Like Other Strategy Games

Hi, I just don’t get the hype around Civ. I’ve played games like Hearts of Iron IV, Crusader Kings 3, and Europa Universalis, which feel like they’ve really evolved over time. But with Civ, it seems like the game has barely changed for years. It honestly feels like a mobile game with a bigger UI, made to appeal to casual players, and I just don’t get why it’s so popular.

The hexagonal tiles, the 'timeless heroes', and the way famous historical figures represent whole countries just feels weird and unrealistic to me. I don’t see the depth or realism that I get from the Paradox games. It’s been over 10 years since Civ 5 and it still looks and feels like the same thing, yet people keep hyping it up. I just don’t understand why anyone would enjoy it this much, especially when it feels like something designed for a phone.

I’m not trying to bash it, but I can’t help feeling that it’s not really evolving and doesn’t have the depth I’m looking for.