Research-backed game lineage

Civilization

Civilization is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

13 curated games 1991–2025 release span 0 connected branches
Sid Meier's Civilization coverSid Meier's Colonization coverSid Meier's Civilization II coverCivilization: Call to Power coverSid Meier's Civilization III cover

Genre profile

Primary-root profile.

The researched entries keep a consistent primary-root profile.

Observed shapeStrategy13 researched entries
Primary roots
Frameworks

Subgenres represented4X 5Turn-Based Strategy 1

Entry points

Starting points.

Use the researched chronology, ratings, and remake relationships to select a starting title.

Chronological startSid Meier's CivilizationMainline · 1991Highest ratedSid Meier's Civilization IVMainline · 2005Most recent mainlineSid Meier's Civilization VIIMainline · 2025

Release chronology

All researched entries.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

13 games in this lineage

01 Sid Meier's Civilization cover
Mainline1991

Sid Meier's Civilization

Sid Meier's Civilization is a turn-based strategy computer game created by Sid Meier for MicroProse in 1991.The game's objective is "...to build an empire that would stand the test of time". The game begins in 4000 BC, and the players attempt to expand and develop their empires through the ages until modern and near-future times. It is also known simply as Civilization.

Sep 30, 199189/100
02 Sid Meier's Colonization cover
Mainline1994

Sid Meier's Colonization

The New World lies before you with all its peril, promise and infinite possibility. Your colonists anxiously follow you to shore. The treasures of an entire continent await you. Finally, the much-anticipated follow-up to Civilization is here! Sid Meier's Colonization takes you into the Colonial Era to discover, explore and colonize vast territories that promise both danger and reward. Play one of four colonial powers as you set sail to discover the New World. Explore new lands and strategically plant your first colony. Direct its growth, manage its resources and establish lucrative trade routes. Balance economics, political and military strategy to create your own powerful nation. But beware of your enemies! Angry natives and rival powers can encroach upon your territory. You'll have to overcome your foes with superior military strategy and wily diplomacy. Only then can you launch your revolution and declare your independence. Colonization, The newest strategy game from Sid Meier continues the great tradition of Civilization.

May 14, 199485/100
04 Civilization: Call to Power cover
Mainline1999

Civilization: Call to Power

Civilization: Call to Power is a turn-based empire building game. The players start a civilization in the stone age and lead them to the future through science, diplomacy, war, trade, and other actions. Eventually, the player will be building colonies in space and cities in the ocean if the player can survive.

Mar 1, 199965/100
05 Sid Meier's Civilization III cover
Mainline2001

Sid Meier's Civilization III

Civilization III, like the other Civilization games, is based around building an empire, from the ground up, beginning at start of recorded history and continuing beyond the current modern day. The player's civilization is centered around a core of cities that provide the resources necessary to grow the player's cities, construct city improvements, wonders, and units, and advance the player's technological development. The player must balance a good infrastructure, resources, diplomatic and trading skills, technological advancement, city and empire management, culture, and military power to succeed.

Oct 30, 200180/100
06 Sid Meier's Civilization IV cover
Mainline2005

Sid Meier's Civilization IV

Sid Meier and Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive game to new heights by adding new ways to play and win, new tools to manage and expand your civilization, all-new easy to use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options

Oct 25, 200590/100
07 CivCity: Rome cover
Mainline2006

CivCity: Rome

CivCity: Rome, an innovative city builder, invites players to shift focus from building a multi-city empire and zoom-in on the great cities of the Roman Empire, culminating in Rome itself! Through dozens of missions, each offering an array of interesting decisions, players will be charged with building, nurturing and managing one of these great cities as they endeavor to lead the Roman Empire from its humble beginnings to its mighty apogee. Features players have enjoyed in the Civilization series, like research, city happiness, production and culture, can now be managed actively in the wonderfully immersive world of CivCity: Rome.

Jul 24, 200664/100
08 Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution cover
Mainline2008

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Experience the journey of a civilization's birth to it's rise of power. Learn new technologies, conquer your foes, meet great people, and build Wonders of the World. Play as 16 different civilizations and explore the randomly generated lands to meet new empires and create new relations with them.

Jun 13, 200875/100
09 Sid Meier's Civilization V cover
Mainline2010

Sid Meier's Civilization V

Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game in which players lead a civilization from the ancient era through the future. Players found cities, research technologies, build improvements, train military units, and engage in diplomacy with AI or human opponents. Victory can be achieved through domination, science, culture, diplomacy, or by having the highest score when time runs out. The game features a hex-based tile system, city-states as minor factions, and ranged combat that prevents unit stacking on a single tile.

Sep 21, 201086/100
10 Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth cover
Mainline2014

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is a new science-fiction-themed entry into the award-winning Civilization series. Set in the future, global events have destabilized the world leading to a collapse of modern society, a new world order and an uncertain future for humanity. As the human race struggles to recover, the re-developed nations focus their resources on deep space travel to chart a new beginning for mankind. As part of an expedition sent to find a home beyond Earth, you will write the next chapter for humanity as you lead your people into a new frontier and create a new civilization in space. Explore and colonize an alien planet, research new technologies, amass mighty armies, build incredible Wonders and shape the face of your new world. As you embark on your journey you must make critical decisions. From your choice of sponsor and the make-up of your colony, to the ultimate path you choose for your civilization, every decision opens up new possibilities.

Oct 24, 201476/100
11 Sid Meier's Starships cover
Mainline2015

Sid Meier's Starships

Sid Meier’s Starships challenges players to build a planetary federation by exploring the galaxy, expanding its influence and domain, researching futuristic technologies and engaging in deep, turn-based tactical space combat with an armada of uniquely customizable starships. Each new campaign will feature its own distinctive galactic strategy map of worlds with dynamically generated tactical combat missions that will enhance the game’s replay value. In addition, Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth fans who purchase Sid Meier’s Starships will uncover cross-connectivity with the two games such that will enhance and expand the depth of both game experiences.

Mar 12, 201567/100
12 Sid Meier's Civilization VI cover
Mainline2016

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Civilization VI is a 4X turn-based strategy game in which players guide a civilization from its founding as a small settlement through multiple eras of development. Players explore a procedurally generated map, found cities, research technologies, develop culture, engage in diplomacy, and compete against AI or human opponents to achieve victory through military dominance, scientific advancement, cultural influence, religious conversion, or diplomatic consensus. A key design change from its predecessor is the "unstacking" of cities, requiring players to place districts on surrounding tiles rather than stacking all improvements in the city center, making terrain and geography central to strategic planning. The game received two major expansions, Rise and Fall and Gathering Storm, which introduced mechanics like city loyalty, golden/dark ages, climate change, and natural disasters. It was succeeded by Civilization VII in 2025.

Oct 20, 201684/100
13 Sid Meier's Civilization VII cover
Mainline2025

Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history. Establish your civilization, construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations in pursuit of prosperity, and explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Will you build an empire that stands the test of time?

Feb 11, 202572/100

Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

  1. database Civilization collection — IGDB

    IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for Civilization and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.

  2. reference List of best-selling video game franchises

    The independent catalog recognizes Civilization as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.