Sid Meier’s Civilization is a life-consuming addiction, and like any good drug dealer, 2K knows how to push. It’s really all about the first taste, and right now they’re handing out one heck of a free sample. From now until the 23rd at 10AM Pacific, Civilization V is free to play on steam. If you’ve never played a Civ game before and you’re curious what to expect, then this is a perfect opportunity to see what they’re all about and lose about 10 pounds to dehydration in the process.

This free period is, of course, being done to drum up hype for Civilzation: Beyond Earth, the spiritual successor to Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, which comes out this Friday worldwide. If you get hooked on this first taste, you can now buy Beyond Earth and pre-load it onto your PC so that you’ll be ready to play from the minute it becomes available right up until your most curious loved one decides to check in on you and calls an ambulance.