Surely it's a clone given that it clones the game mechanics specifically? As in the rules of the game are 1:1 to Civ V, or as close as you'd need to be an expert in the game to tell the difference.
It'd be interesting to see a developer create a slightly prettier version of Vice City. I appreciate the visuals of the later GTA games but doing more with less seems like it'd make sense. The gap between these games is getting rather nuts.
Then again, "forever" games seem to print money, and that's more important than creative expression. As I get older I have a greater appreciation for games that don't try to outstay their welcome. GTA V seemed to struggle with this - on the one hand it was huge, on the other the story seemed to be about half the length it telegraphed itself as. What's the point in being able to level up the stats of heist crew if there's not enough for it to matter, etc..
(In my opinion, obviously) GTA IV was too long, San Andreas was a sprawling mess, but Vice City was the sweet spot.
I wonder if the next one will take so long that the world it satirises is long gone. Facebook being parodied in GTA V no longer makes much sense, for example