How to stop Civilization V from freezing and crashing

Civilization 5 is a great game and it’s even more accessible now that it’s on Steam. However a lot of people have been experiencing crashes and freezing while playing.

Fortunately the fixes are quite simple. I recommend you go down the list until your problem is fixed, I’ve listed solutions from most easy to least.

Solution #1: Select “DirectX 9” on the start-up screen

This is the simplest solution and one that has worked for most people. When loading the game click on the version of the game labeled “DirectX 9”. It’ll be at the top of the list of versions. You’ll have to select this option every time you play the game.

Solution #2: Update video card drivers for ATI and nVidia

Some game crashes occur because of outdated drivers and new drivers can also contain patches bugs. You can get these drivers from the website of your video card manufacturer.

Solution #3: Quit applications before playing Civilization V

On some computers a large map can demand more memory than you have available in your RAM. By closing any applications that are running you can ensure that Civilization has as much memory as it needs.

Solution #4: Delete any mods that you have added

A faulty mod that you’ve installed in the past may be the cause of your problems. If you have mods delete all of them. If the freezing no longer occurs you can then add the mods back one by one until you discover which was the cause of the problems.

Do you have a solution of your own? Please share it in the comments below.