Sid Meier's Civilization
Sid Meier's Civilization is a 1991 turn-based strategy game developed by MicroProse. Players guide a civilization from the dawn of history into the near future, founding cities, researching technologies, building world wonders, waging war, and conducting diplomacy in pursuit of global conquest or a victorious space race to Alpha Centauri.
Designed by Sid Meier and Bruce Shelley, the game defined the 4X genre for a generation, popularizing the addictive one-more-turn loop and a sprawling technology tree in which each advance unlocked new units, buildings, and government types. Its balance of long-term planning and moment-to-moment decisions, along with historically flavored civilizations and leaders, made it one of the most influential games ever created. It effectively established the template that countless empire-building titles would follow.
The original endures as a foundational classic, and its many sequels keep the formula alive and evolving for modern players seeking that same sweep of historical grand strategy.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Sid Meier's Civilization, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI | € 59,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch |
| Freeciv Indie | Free | Not on Steam | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Sid Meier's Civilization V | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Old World | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac |
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
€ 59,99The modern mainline entry in the empire-building series.
Sid Meier's Civilization VI runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim Indie
€ 14,99A Civ-shaped empire game trimmed to about an hour a game, ideal on a phone.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. Not available on Linux, PlayStation, Xbox.
Freeciv Indie
FreeA free open-source empire-building game inspired by Civilization.
Freeciv runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Sid Meier's Civilization V
€ 29,99Many players' favourite Civ, with hex tiles and one-unit-per-tile combat.
Sid Meier's Civilization V runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Old World
€ 39,99A historical 4X strategy game with dynasties and character drama.
Old World runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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