Sid Meier’s Civilization

The game that launched the 4X genre, Civilization is an absolute classic. The scope of Civilization is larger than most other games of its time as the game begins in 4000 BC, before the Bronze Age, and can last through to AD 2100, the Space Age

You start by picking the civilization of choice. Unlike later Civilization games, this is mostly a cosmetic element affecting minor elements such as the names of cities but does not impact the game in any strategic way such as with starting technologies and so on. You start out with two settlers who can build a city which in turn can build new units & “city improvements”. Units mostly consist of military assets which get progressively stronger and more advanced as the game goes on.

Besides building units & improvements you need to carefully chose which discoveries you want since this in turn will affect what buildings & units you can use as well as many other elements that impact the game. These also impact which Wonders of the World you can build. These wonders (such as the pyramids or the great wall of China) give significant boosts & boons to your civilization but can only be built a single time by a single civilization so speed is of the issue!

Civilization has been called one of the most important strategy games of all time and has spawned many sequels such as Civilization II (1996), Civilization III (2001) and so on. There are also other, similar, games that were greatly inspired by Civilization which are well worth a look such as Alpha Centauri (made by Sid Meier himself), Master of Magic and Master of Orion.

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