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It’s time to conquer the world, one turn at a time.

If you enjoy history, strategy, and immersive gameplay, then Civilization is the franchise for you. Developed by the legendary designer Sid Meier, Civilization is a strategy game where players guide a civilization from the stone age through the space age. Players can form alliances, attack enemies, gather resources, and develop their societies. Imagine what it would be like if The Sims went global, and that’s Civilization.

Originally developed as a computer game in 1991, the series has spawned many sequels and spinoffs. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the latest game in the series, taking the franchise to new heights with sharper graphics, new game mechanics, and all the classic fun from previous entries in the franchise. If you’ve ever wanted to play Civilization but weren’t sure where to start, not to worry, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the franchise.

How to play Civilization in release order

If you want to play all the Civilization games in order….well, it might take a while. Some games take almost 400 hours to complete, depending on your skill. However, if you have time on your hands, and like a good challenge, here is a list of every Civilization game.

First, let’s establish what counts and what doesn’t. We’re not counting games like Sid Meier’s Colonization or Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri. While those games were also developed by Sid Meier and take inspiration from Civilization, they’re not part of the same series. Games like CivNet and Civilization Revolution are listed, since they’re direct spinoffs of the main series. Despite the name, Civilization: Call to Power is not an official part of the series. Rather, it was a spiritual successor developed by Activision. We’re not classifying Civilization expansion packs as separate games, since by definition they are expansions of existing games.

With that, here is the release order for the Civilization franchise…

• Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991)
• Sid Meier’s CIvNet (1995)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization II (1996)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization III (2001)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (2005)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution (2008)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization V (2010)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization World (2011)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2016)
• Civilization: Eras and Allies (2023)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (2025)

What’s the best play order for Civilization?

If you want to play through the Civilization franchise, but release order isn’t for you, here is an alternate play order. Keep in mind, Civilization isn’t a quick game, and depending on how you play, it could take months or even years for you to play through the series.

• Sid Meier’s Civilization V (2010) – This will give you a basic understanding of the gameplay, but at the same time it isn’t as complicated as VI and VII. It’s challenging enough to entertain you, while still feeling accessible to new Civilization players.
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2016) – From here you jump to the next game in the series. Civilization VI builds on the mechanics of V, while adding new features and game mechanics.
• Sid Meier’s Civilization II (1996) – By now you’re probably hooked on Civilization and the 4X genre. Civilization II is a great change of pace after playing VI. While II doesn’t have all the gameplay features and mechanics that later entries have, it’s still an entertaining strategy game that’s held up well. Civilization II was the gold standard in the ‘90s, and helped popularize the 4X genre.
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (2025) – After the change of pace with Civilization II, you can switch gears and play the newest entry, Civilization VII. Going from II to VII will help you appreciate how far the series has come, and having already played V and VI, you’ll be warmed up to face all the challenges VII has to offer.

From here, you can play the rest of the series in any order you want. But that’s just our suggestion. Truthfully, each game is so addictive, you might have difficulty moving onto the next one on the list.

Do the Civilization games have a storyline?

The Civilization franchise isn’t like Red Dead Redemption or The Last of Us. The games don’t have overarching storylines that carry over from game to game. The Civilization franchise is part of the 4X strategy games genre. 4X is an abbreviation for explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate, which are some of the key gameplay elements in the franchise.

While your game choices in Civilization V will affect the journey your society goes through, it’s all standalone. In other words, what happens in Civilization V has no bearing on Civilization VI. Each game is a blank slate that you control.

What is the best Civilization type game?

If you’re a Civilization player who is looking for similar games, then you should check out Tropico 6. It’s a strategy game with similar mechanics to Civilization, but with a more humorous twist. You rule over the island state of Tropico, even if your ruling style is a bit suspect. Tropico is available for Windows, Mac, and all next gen consoles.

FreeCiv is another Civilization alternative. As the name suggests, it’s a free-to-play copy of Civilization, taking most of its inspiration from Civilization II. FreeCiv is an open source game, which can be downloaded from its official website.  There’s also Old World, a 4X game from which was developed by Mohawk Games, a studio founded by Soren Johnson, the lead designer of Civilization IV. Old World is playable on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

When does Civilization VII come out?

Civilization VII is the latest entry in the Civilization series. The release date for the game is February 11, 2025. The game can be played on Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Why is Civilization VI so popular?

Popularity is subjective, so there is no definitive way to answer that question. However, if you look at the reviews for Civilization VI, you will notice some patterns. Players have noted that Civilization VI is more complex than previous entries, with more gameplay options, more depth, and more to explore. Simply put, every time you play Civilization VI, you get a different experience. There is enough in the game to keep you playing for years (and some players have) without getting bored. It’s addictive, but in a fun way.

Does Civilization VI ever end?

Civilization VI is an addictive game, but despite speculation to the contrary, it’s not a never-ending game. You can beat the game by completing one of the 6 objectives, domination, science, religion, culture, score, and diplomacy. Go with whatever your skillset is and concentrate on that objective. Some players find religion to be the easiest to beat, but your mileage may vary.

When did Sid Meier’s Civilization V come out?

Sid Meier’s Civilization V was released for Windows in September 21, 2010. A Mac OS X release followed in November 23,2010. Linux players had to wait until June 10, 2014. Firaxis Games spent 3 years and 3 months developing the game for release.

Which Civilization game should I start with?

Each Civilization game is unique, so it’s hard to say which one you should start with. It all depends on the player, and their gameplay preferences. Civilization V is considered one of the easier games to get into if you’re a new player. It’s a great way to learn the game mechanics for the franchise without being overwhelmed. If you’re a fast learner, then Civilization VI is your best bet. It builds on the mechanics from Civilization V, while adding some cool new features. Plus, it’s addictive in a fun way.

If you’re REALLY feeling brave, Civilization VII is the latest game in the franchise and it’s available for Windows, macOS, and all next gen gaming consoles. If you’re going to get immersed in the franchise, why not start with the latest release?

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