What are the perfect video games like Civilization? Because the undisputed king of 4X video games (for now), there are a lot of who’ve tried to repeat what Sid Meier created and lots who need to play a Civ-like expertise that wasn’t created by Firaxis. We’ve delved into a few of the greatest 4X video games on the market to avoid wasting you the difficulty of trying round.
Civilization video games provide a novel imaginative and prescient of turn-based technique the place you begin from humble origins and lead a folks via the ages, founding extra cities, enriching your empire with cultural or technological developments, and very often, preventing different civilizations. Whereas we’ve a devoted listing of nice 4X video games usually (on which you’ll, in fact, discover Civilization), a few of chances are you’ll be all for trying for one thing that extra carefully resembles Firaxis’ widespread collection.
Listed here are the perfect video games like Civilization:
Previous World
One of many more moderen turn-based technique video games on this listing was launched from its early entry interval in 2022. Previous World is a 4X that makes an attempt to deconstruct Civ and innovate in ways in which push the boundaries extra so than another rival. It’s the brainchild of Soren Johnson – the previous lead designer of Civilization IV – and his studio Mohawk Video games. Previous World is locked to the traditional and classical ears, that includes civilizations reminiscent of Rome, Carthage, and Assyria.
The mechanical components round empire administration are advantageous, however the true improvements lie in including Crusader Kings-style character components, occasions, and the ‘orders’ system. This converts a participant’s means to behave right into a finite useful resource as an alternative of each unit attending to do one thing each flip. Try our Previous World evaluation for extra, however that is undoubtedly one price trying out.
Humankind
Final however actually not least, the final word recreation like Civilization needs to be one which’s actively making an attempt to topple Sid Meier’s large off its gilded throne. Humankind, from the builders that introduced you Countless Legend and Countless House, seeks to turn out to be the king of Civ-like technique video games via a reinvention of diplomatic, empire, and victory programs, in addition to a turn-based tactical mode the place armies can conflict over massive swathes of terrain.
That is the sport Amplitude has spent its whole existence working in direction of, so lots is using on it. You possibly can learn our Humankind evaluation to see what we considered it in full. There are nonetheless some points round late-game stability, nevertheless it’s no worse than Civilization 5 or 6.
Countless House 2
Countless House 2 takes the “another flip” philosophy of Civ video games and thrusts it into the deep reaches of area. Constructing your colony and establishing commerce routes is the important thing to sustainability. Nevertheless, sooner relatively than later, you’ll have to enterprise out to find historical relics from long-forgotten races and assert your dominance by growing expertise of immense energy.
Just lately, Countless House 2 has seen a little bit of a comeback, thanks to some modifications the developer Amplitude Studios made, reminiscent of an overhaul of the fight and options of the lackluster Awakening DLC reworked solely. Mixed with a well-timed low cost, the participant depend has leaped up, and the final reception as of late is much extra optimistic.
The Battle of Polytopia
This is a wonderful, mild distillation of the Civilization 4X expertise. Contemplating this began life as a cellular technique recreation, Polytopia has grown to turn out to be one thing price trying out even on PC, because it gives 12 civilizations, a number of procedurally generated maps, and all the important thing touchstones you’d count on from a 4X recreation.
A bit like RTS traditional Northgard, all the recreation’s main updates are free, however extra civilizations can be found to buy as DLC packs. That is the place it is best to look if you’d like a lighter, tighter Civilization expertise.
Age of Wonders 3
Age of Wonders 3 might be the perfect on this long-running turn-based wargame collection. There’s every thing right here you’d count on from a Civ-like – the empire administration, armies, tech timber, and spells, in addition to add-ons reminiscent of fantasy-themed hero models. The primary headline characteristic for Age of Wonders 3 is that there’s a separate tactical battle mode the place armies combat it out in additional granular element.
The world is stuffed with NPC risks and different empires, however there are additionally quest-like nodes you possibly can work together with, reminiscent of dungeons or deserted mines. Maps may spawn a subterranean degree that you could solely entry through particularly positioned tunnels. A few of AoW3’s races (like dwarves) desire being underground. One other cool factor is that, along with constructing the standard cities, you can too construct smaller ‘forts’ and outposts to carry key positions with out creating a complete metropolis, much like Humankind.
Warlock: Masters of the Arcane
In case you take Civilization 5 and add fantasy components reminiscent of magic, NPC monsters, and portals to different dimensions, then you definately’ve obtained Warlock: Grasp of the Arcane. Printed by Paradox Interactive 2012, this can be a mash-up of experiments that elevate it past its ‘fantasy Civ’ facade and supply a captivating counterpoint to the Civilization collection, which was extremely widespread even on the time.
What is very cool is that if you happen to have been bored of doing the extra run-of-the-mill Civ-like stuff on the principle map, you possibly can take your armies and attempt to discover portals. These would result in different ‘maps’ which are basically completely different dimensions, with more durable monsters and higher rewards. You can even colonize these areas and develop your empire that means.
Warlock obtained a sequel in 2014 known as Warlock 2: The Exiled, which leaned into the dimension-hopping a bit extra. It wasn’t as artistic as the primary recreation, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly respectable. Each are notable as a result of Civ 5’s UI is replicated fairly precisely, making it very apparent what the first inspiration was.
Freeciv
You possibly can’t have a dialog about video games like Civilization with out discussing the final word copycat, Freeciv. Because the title implies, it’s 100% free and has been actively developed and labored on as an open-source undertaking since 1996. When it comes to guidelines, it has extra in widespread with Civilization 2 than with extra trendy video games, and its structure is predicated on an previous shooter recreation known as XPilot.
The undertaking has grown and advanced since then, with a brand new ‘longturn’ format launched in 2004, which includes day-long turns and video games involving as much as 30 folks. The sport can assist 2D and 3D graphics and may be very versatile if you already know what you’re doing. If the wallet-friendly facet of Freeciv appeals to you, we even have a listing devoted to the perfect free PC video games proper now.
Tropico 6
In case you’re after a Civ-like with a little bit of foolish humor thrown in for good measure then the Tropico collection is all the time a strong shout. Whilst you’re not fairly capable of nuke France as Gandhi, you do get to lord over tropical archipelagos because the charismatic El Presidente – beard recreation on level.
This vibrant metropolis builder has you make the island state of Tropico sensible as soon as extra, as you deliver peace (?) and prosperity to the Tropicans inhabiting it. You possibly can even yoink the seven wonders of the world so as to add some much-needed drip to your empire. It’s not a dictatorship, it’s an aggressive democracy.
Hopefully, these six 4X gems will fulfill your lust for different Civilization-like experiences whereas we look forward to a Civilization 7 launch date announcement from Firaxis. In case you nonetheless want extra, alongside the 4X and turn-based listicles linked above, then check out our extra basic greatest PC video games listing, and also you would possibly even uncover a brand new favourite style. Lastly, listed here are the upcoming PC video games in 2024 to whet your urge for food.
Extra entries by Joe Robinson.
