21 Games Similar To The Civilization Series
Civilization, developed by Sid Meier, is an iconic and genre-defining game that has been captivating strategy enthusiasts for decades. With its addictive gameplay, vast scope and deep strategic mechanics, Civilization is a timeless masterpiece offering endless hours of engaging gameplay and exploration. Next you will see similar games.
21. Spore
- Similarity: 10 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2008
- Game play time: 30 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game consists of several stages, each representing a different phase of evolution. Starting from a humble single-cell organism, players progress through the stages of creature, tribe, civilization, and finally space exploration. The ability to create and customize creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even entire planets provides a wide field for creative expression. Spore offers an intriguing concept that allows players to embark on an evolutionary journey filled with creativity. The freedom to design and create your own species, combined with a variety of evolutionary stages, provides a unique and engaging experience. However, shallow game mechanics, repetitive tasks, and limited artificial intelligence depth prevent Spore from reaching the heights of a true strategy game. While Spore may not satisfy the strategy cravings of Civilization 6 fans, it remains an interesting and engaging game for those looking for creativity and imagination. Get ready to unleash your creativity and witness the evolution of your own species in the fascinating world of Spore.
20. Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War
The game immerses players on a war-torn planet where four legendary factions from the Warhammer 40,000 universe fight for supremacy. The game captures the grim aesthetics and atmosphere of the source material, immersing players in a brutal and unforgiving conflict. With its atmospheric setting, engaging gameplay mechanics, and strategic combat, the game offers a unique and exciting journey for fans of both Warhammer 40,000 and the 4X genre. While not as versatile as Civilization 6, Gladius - Relics of War is a worthy addition to any strategy fan's library.
19. Age of Empires IV
- Similarity: 20 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2021
- Game play time: 50 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Age of Empires 4 embodies the essence of the classic real-time strategy game beloved by fans. Set in various historical eras, players embark on epic campaigns or engage in thrilling multiplayer battles as they command armies, manage resources, and build thriving civilizations. The game offers a variety of game modes, including exciting single-player campaigns that tell the story of historical events and multiplayer battles where players can test their mettle against other enthusiasts. With a map editor, players can create and share their own scenarios, enhancing the game's replayability and empowering the community.While Age of Empires 4 cannot surpass the innovation and depth of Civilization 6, it is a worthy addition to the franchise, providing both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and an enjoyable real-time strategy game experience.
18. Stellaris
- Similarity: 20 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2016
- Game play time: 80 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Stellaris gameplay combines elements of empire building, diplomacy and real-time strategy. The player will manage their growing space empire by expanding territories, exploring technology and building a powerful fleet. The game offers a variety of play styles and strategies to suit different player preferences. Whether it's diplomacy and alliance building, intense space battles, or scientific exploration. The inclusion of multiple victory conditions also adds to the replayability and allows players to take different paths to success. While Stellaris can't replicate the same addictive qualities and iconic gameplay of Civilization 6, it is a worthy addition to any strategy enthusiast's library, offering a unique and exciting journey through space. Get ready to embark on an interstellar odyssey and determine the fate of your civilization in the exciting world of Stellaris.
17. Total War: Pharaoh
The game successfully combines elements of the grand strategy of the Total War series with the captivating atmosphere of Ancient Egypt. In the game, players will have to go through the path of formation and rule of the pharaohs, managing all aspects of their civilization - from city building and resource management to diplomacy and commanding armies in epic battles. Real-time battles in Total War: PHARAOH are the highlight of the game. Tactical depth, unit variety, and attention to detail bring ancient warfare to life. Commanding chariots, infantry or archers, players can experience the thrill of large-scale battles by strategically positioning their troops and utilizing the unique abilities of units. Visually, battles look stunning, and cinematic camera angles enhance the immersive experience. Civilization fans, keep this series in mind.
16. Crusader Kings III
- Similarity: 30 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2020
- Game play time: 100 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
The game is set in the Middle Ages. Players take on the role of a ruler who navigates a tangled web of politics, diplomacy, and warfare to preserve the legacy of his dynasty. The game's emphasis on characters allows players to embody the traits, ambitions, and vices of their ruler, creating a deeply personal and immersive experience. Every decision made, from arranging a marriage to plotting an assassination attempt, carries weight and is reflected in an intricate web of relationships. While the game doesn't look much like the traditional 4X gameplay of Civilization 6, Crusader Kings 3 is a must-play for those looking for a rich and immersive journey into the complex history of medieval rule.
15. Anno 1800
- Similarity: 40 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2019
- Game play time: 60 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Anno 1800 captures the essence of the industrial age. Set in the 19th century, players embark on an ambitious journey to build and manage a thriving city, taking advantage of industrialization and technological advancement. Elements of city planning, resource management and strategic planning. Players must balance the needs of a growing population, secure the necessary resources, create trade routes, and manage complex production chains. While the game can't surpass Civilization 6 in terms of innovation and complexity, Anno 1800 is a worthy addition to any strategy enthusiast's library, offering a unique and exciting journey through a pivotal era in human history. Prepare to embrace the challenges and triumphs of the Industrial Revolution in the exciting world of Anno 1800.
14. Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
Like Civilization, the game takes players through a nation of their choice from ancient to modern times, managing resources, expanding territories, conducting diplomacy and engaging in strategic wars. One of the strengths of Rise of Nations is its deep and varied gameplay. Players have the opportunity to determine the fate of their country by making many choices. From choosing a unique nation with its own bonuses and special units to conducting research, managing cities, and commanding armies, the game offers many strategic options and paths to victory. Game mechanics allow for strategic maneuvering, tactical positioning, and unique unit abilities. Whether you're engaged in large-scale conflicts or surgical strikes, the thrill of commanding armies and watching the outcome of battles in real time is the highlight of the game.
13. ENDLESS Legend
- Similarity: 50 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2014
- Game play time: 40 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
While in the land of Auriga, players enter a fantasy realm populated by diverse and intriguing factions. Each faction has its own play style, units and history. The world is beautifully designed with stunning visuals, detailed environments, and a breathtaking art style that brings the fantasy world to life. Endless Legend's gameplay combines traditional 4X strategy elements with innovative mechanics that set the game apart from other games like Civilization. Players will manage their cities, explore the map, expand territories, engage in diplomacy and wage wars. A distinctive feature of Endless Legend is the inclusion of unique faction quests and intriguing victory conditions that add depth to the gameplay and customize the narrative experience.
12. Old World
- Similarity: 50 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2021
- Game play time: 40 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Old World embodies the essence of building a civilization with a historical bias. Set in the ancient Mediterranean, players take on the role of the leader of an emerging nation and lead it through the hardships of antiquity. One of the features of the game is the innovative "Orders" system. Instead of the traditional movement of units, players give them "orders", which allows for simultaneous action and strategic planning. This system adds an extra layer of tactical decision making and encourages thoughtful planning for both military and non-military actions. This sets Old World apart from other strategy games like Civilization and makes the gameplay new and exciting.
11. Age of Wonders 4
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2023
- Game play time: 50 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Players will manage their cities, explore technology, recruit armies, conduct diplomacy, and fight other factions. Tactical battles feature prominently, allowing players to manage their troops on a hex grid and utilize various abilities and tactics to gain an advantage. One of the strengths of Age of Wonders 4 is the variety and customization options available to players. The game features several playable races, each with unique abilities, units, and play styles. In addition, the ability to create your own leaders, customize cities and units gives the game an individual character and allows players to adjust to their own style of play. The variety of gameplay and strategic options allows each playthrough of the game to feel new and meet new challenges. With a rich story, a variety of factions, and exciting tactical battles, the game allows for hours of strategic fun. While the game doesn't surpass the iconic Civilization series in terms of polish and accessibility, Age of Wonders 4 is a worthy choice for fans of fantasy strategy games.
10. Europa Universalis IV
The game spans four centuries, allowing the player to take control of any country in the world and guide it through turbulent times of exploration, colonization, warfare, diplomacy and trade. The level of historical accuracy is impressive: detailed events, religious conflicts, political rivalries, and technological advances are completely real-time. Like the Civilization series, the game opens up a wide range of possibilities, allowing players to determine the course of history and rewrite the fate of nations. Players will manage their nation's economy, politics, military and diplomacy, making strategic decisions that can have far-reaching consequences.
9. Galactic Civilizations III
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2015
- Game play time: 40 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Players are tasked with leading their chosen civilization to dominance in a vast galaxy filled with diverse races, planets, and resources. The game offers a deep and complex technology tree, allowing players to explore and discover technologies that determine the development and military power of their civilization. Players can form alliances, make trade agreements, and engage in political maneuvers with other civilizations, both friendly and hostile. Diplomacy mechanics are characterized by complexity and depth, allowing for full interaction and strategic calculations. The AI of opponents presents a worthy challenge, though some players may find the diplomatic AI to be predictable or prone to repetitive behavior. Civilization 6 fans should enjoy it!
8. Terra Invicta
- Similarity: 60 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2023
- Game play time: 60 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Terra Invicta is notable for its focus on the geopolitical landscape and the challenge of uniting the nations of Earth against a common extraterrestrial threat. The game immerses players in a world on the brink of invasion and challenges them to coordinate international efforts to counter the alien threat and secure the future of humanity. One of the features of Terra Invicta is a complex diplomacy system, something not seen in the Civilization series. The player will have to build complex relationships with different nations, make treaties, create alliances and balance conflicting interests. The depth of the diplomatic mechanics adds complexity and realism to the gameplay, requiring thoughtful decision-making and strategic planning to build coalitions and maintain stability.
7. Pandora: First Contact
The developers take players to an alien planet where they must establish and expand their colonies while navigating the challenges of extraterrestrial life. The game features the basic elements of city management, resource allocation, technology exploration, and diplomacy that are familiar to fans of the Civilization series. However, Pandora has its own features and mechanics that set it apart from its predecessor: alien life forms, terraforming, and the ability to genetically modify units. These elements open up opportunities to create unique strategies and tactics, allowing players to adapt and overcome the challenges of an alien planet.
6. Eador. Imperium
The game features a vast and dynamic world in which players play the role of demigods tasked with conquering and shaping the land. The strategic elements of city management, resource allocation, and exploration are very similar to the core mechanics of Civilization 6, and the inclusion of role-playing character development adds an extra level of depth and personalization to the game. The game's world is divided into many shards, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities. The player must navigate these shards by conquering provinces, completing quests, and engaging in strategic battles to expand their influence. Battles take place on a hex grid where players must strategically place their troops, utilize terrain advantages and unit abilities to achieve victory. A wide variety of units and hero customization options allow for different play styles and strategic approaches.
5. Humankind
- Similarity: 90 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2021
- Game play time: 50 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Unlike other games in this genre, Humankind allows players to customize and develop their civilization across different eras, combining the cultures, technologies, and ideologies of different historical civilizations. It's fascinating to see how choices made in one era can affect the trajectory and identity of a civilization in subsequent eras, creating a sense of continuity and evolution. Gameplay combines turn-based strategy and city management mechanics. Players will navigate through different eras, managing resources, developing technology, and expanding their territories. The strategic depth of the game is impressive, with a wide range of opportunities for diplomacy, trade, warfare and cultural development. The game strikes a balance between accessibility and complexity, making it interesting for both newcomers to the genre and experienced strategy players. The AI of the opponents presents a decent challenge, although some players may find it becomes less interesting late in the game. While Humankind cannot surpass the well-established Civilization series in terms of polish and depth, the game is a worthy addition to the genre. Get ready to rewrite history and leave your mark on the world!
4. Victoria 3
- Similarity: 90 %
- Metacritic: link
- Year of release: 2022
- Game play time: 100 hours
- Trailer: link
- Review: IGN
Set in the Victorian era, players take on the role of a nation-state, managing its political, economic and social development during this pivotal period. The game effectively captures the complexities of the time, including industrialization, imperialism, political ideologies, social reforms and diplomatic intricacies. Victoria 3 is a grand triumph of historical strategy, offering an immersive and authentic journey into the Victorian era. With meticulous attention to detail, depth of game mechanics and engaging systems, the game successfully captures the complexities of the time. For Civilization 6 fans and strategy enthusiasts, Victoria 3 is a must-play game that will provide countless hours of strategic decision-making, diplomatic maneuvering, and historical exploration. Get ready to rewrite history and lead your nation through an era of transformation in the exciting world of Victoria 3.
3. Warlock: Masters of the Arcane
Warlock: Masters of the Arcane draws inspiration from the 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) genre, similar to Civilization 6. However, the game features a fantasy setting, where the player will take on the role of a powerful mage seeking to create an empire and dominate a mystical world. The game features different races, each with their own abilities and play style. Players will have to expand their empire, mine resources, learn spells and engage in strategic battles with rival mages and fantastical creatures.
2. Ymir
The game offers a huge number of systems and variables to manage, including economy, politics, technology and infrastructure. The player will have to carefully balance these factors to ensure the growth and prosperity of his civilization. The depth of the simulation mechanics adds complexity to the gameplay and allows for strategic decision making. Ymir is a slow and deliberate pace that focuses on long-term planning and gradual progression. This approach may appeal to those who enjoy a more measured and methodical style of play. However, it can also lead to periods of relative inactivity and waiting, which may seem slow and less engaging to those looking for more immediate action and challenge. Very much like a more challenging version of Civilization 6.
1. Freeciv
- Similarity: 100 %
- Year of release: 1995
- Game play time: 25 hours
Freeciv's main strength lies in its accessibility. As an open source game, it is freely available to all players. The gameplay largely follows the basic mechanics of Civilization: the player has to assume the role of a ruler leading his civilization through the ages. The game is a turn-based world in which players engage in city management, exploration, technological development, and diplomacy. Strategic elements of resource management, military conquest and cultural development are present in the game, providing a familiar and engaging experience for fans of the genre.
