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TheCivilizationfranchise started all the way back in 1991 and has since released six mainline games, withCivilization 7confirmed to be in development, as well as a variety of different spin-offs. The franchise is regarded as one of the best in the strategy genre and is said to be the first major franchise in the 4X genre.
Over the years, theCivilizationfranchise has garnered fans of all ages from all over the world and has expanded to almost every platform, from PC to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, as well as mobile devices. There are so many great games in the franchise, but there are few that fall short in some areas compared to their incredible counterparts.
Civilization 4
Every long-running franchise has one game that breaks away from old traditions and adds new content and ways to play. ForCivilization, that game would beCivilization 4, which added new ways to play, new ‘Great People’ (a feature added inCivilization 3) as well as many other features. It could be argued thatCivilization 4is the bestCivilizationgameto date, and is held in high regard by critics and players. It boasts an impressive soundtrack that puts more emphasis on the era a civilization was in, unique leader themes, and an amazing main theme.
Civilization 5
While the previous games in the franchises were successful,Civilization 5is regarded as the most popular and well-knownCivilizationgame to date. Not much had changed from its predecessor, but it was the firstCivilizationgame to feature realistic graphics for its time.Civilization 5is certainly well worth playing, even 13 years after its release.
Civilization 6
Taking a step away from realistic graphics,Civilization 6features slightly more animated graphics, and is a very vibrant-looking game, more so than its predecessors.Civilization 6can be challengingregardless of the difficulty setting, but it can still keep players wanting “just one more turn”. Out of all theCivilizationgames,Civilization 6is available on pretty much every platform, allowing it to garner fans from all corners of the gaming world.
A Tier
Civilization 1
The game that started the franchise back in 1991 is still at the heart of the franchise’s long-time fans. Without the success ofCivilization 1, there would be noCivilizationfranchise today. However, it can be argued that with fewer features, limited graphics, and a top-down pixel-style map,Civilization 1could find it harder to keep the current generation of players engaged compared to its successors.
Civilization 2
A well-regardedCivilizationgame, which was also the firstCivilizationgame to be ported onto consoles, and received a release on the PlayStation 1, which was viewed as a welcome addition to the console.Civilization 2is very much the same as its predecessor, but there are changes to various features, and the introduction ofthe diplomatic reputation system, as well as an isometric map instead of the top-down map thatCivilization 1had.
Civilization 3
Before the release ofCivilization 5,Civilization 3was regarded highly by many fans and critics, and it could be argued that it was the most well-known in the franchise untilCivilization 5came along. The game was much the same as its predecessor, but it did introduce features such as ‘Great People’, and the Culture system, as well as other features.
Civilization 4: Colonization
A spin-off originally known asSid Meier’s Colonizationuntil it was remade using the engine forCivilization 4,Civilization 4: Colonizationis a standalone game where players control settlers from one of four European nations who are trying to conquer the New World. It features enhanced graphics compared toCivilization 4.
Civilization Revolution
A spin-off developed primarily for consoles,Civilization Revolutionmanaged to capture the experience of the main seriesofCivilizationgames on PC and allows console players the enjoyment that the franchise holds. In later iterations, it was released on mobile and Nintendo DS to provide a portable experience and allow players to playCivilizationwherever they are.
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
This spin-off is essentiallyCivilizationin space. The narrative ofSid Meier’s Alpha Centauriis pretty much a continuation of the ‘Space Victory’ in the mainCivilizationgames, where a civilization goes on a journey to colonize Alpha Centauri. It takes elements featured inCivilization 2and throws them into an alien world where players will race to win the game against other factions.
B Tier
Civilization: Beyond Earth
Another space spin-off that isthe spiritual successor toSid Meier’s Alpha Centauri,Civilization: Beyond Earthuses the same engine asCivilization 5and uses most of the same features. It was a breath of fresh air with its graphics, customization, and lush alien world. However, in some cases, it did prove to have its problems, with reports of crashes and a lack of long-term replayability.
CivCity: Rome
It could be argued that a strategy franchise wouldn’t be complete without at least one city-building game, and it seems theCivilizationdevelopers attempted to expand the franchise into the city-building genre withCivCity: Romeas a city-building spin-off set in the Roman Empire with features similar to the gameCaesar.CivCity: Romewas an interesting and fun entry to theCivilizationfranchise; however, the gameplay could often feel monotonous compared toother city-building games.
C Tier
Sid Meier’s Starships
A standalone spin-off that shares the same universe asCivilization: Beyond Earth.Sid Meier’s Starshipsputs players in charge of a fleet of starships and focuses on exploring the galaxy and encountering other human colonies and new alien life. Unfortunately, this game lacks the strategic depth that mostCivilizationgames have. However, it is a great game for players looking for a small strategy game that is also an extension ofCivilization: Beyond Earth.
Civilization: Eras & Allies
A new free-to-playmobile strategy gamethat is still in early access. This game has great promise and is certainly one to look out for but, unfortunately, at the time of this writing, the server sizes are very small and thus it is very hard to get into one to play the game.Civilization: Eras & Alliesis a real-time, turn-based, multiplayer strategy game that uses a similar style toCivilization 6.
Civilization Revolution 2
A sequel to the console spin-offCivilization Revolution,Civilization Revolution 2is a mobile and PS Vita-only game. This game is great for newcomers to theCivilization Revolutionseries, though it didn’t show much improvement over the original game. It does look great for a mobile game and is a promising prospect forCivilizationgames that are exclusive to mobile platforms, but with a lack of improvement over its predecessors it is one of the least enticing games in theCivilizationfranchise.
