Best Games Like Civilization

When it comes to the best strategy games, few series have as rich of a history as Sid Meier’s Civilization, which dates back to the early 1990s.

Although the series has become the quintessential selection for anyone looking to tap into the 4X strategy genre, there are some Civ alternatives worth exploring.

In this list, we’ll shine a historical light on the top games like Civilization on Steam for enthusiasts to pick up and play in 2025.

For more suggestions, check out our growing library of curated gaming lists, and comment below with your favorite Civ game of all time!

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Old World is an innovative historical strategy game where players can rule a dynasty over countless generations.

It features seven distinct kingdoms, each with four noble families that provide various benefits when put in charge of your cities.

Like Civ, the game allows you to wage colossal wars with kings and queens of rival nations as well as pursue ambitions in areas like faith and developing technologies.

On top of that, players can explore historically-inspired scenarios, hold court in their own realm, marry for political advantage, and raise future heirs.

Next up on our list is Field of Glory: Empires, a grand strategy game set in Europe and surrounding Mediterranean areas during the Classical Age.

In it, players set out to find what it truly means to manage an Empire by expanding their dominion through wars of conquests and culture.

The catch here is the longer your kingdom is around, the more obstacles it will have to overcome as governments and cultural ideals are prone to change over time.

Similar to Civ, the game allows you to construct buildings to enhance your military, the lives of your citizens, and your commercial system for goods and resources.

Total War: Rome Remastered is a timeless collection that’s sure to enrich any RTS fan’s library, particularly those fond of games like Civilization.

Of all the games in the series, this one is credited with establishing the atmosphere and standard for Total War going forward by introducing 3D graphics and modding support.

In it, players guide one of the most sophisticated civilizations through history, creating legions of warriors from 38 distinct playable factions.

With the remaster, Creative Assembly has improved the game’s graphics and gameplay enough to warrant revisiting one of the finest campaigns in the franchise.

Crusader Kings is another historic strategy franchise the likes of which is right up there with Civilization, Total War and Age of Empires.

Furthermore, it’s a superb alternative for history buffs that have always dreamt of guiding a dynasty through the Middle Ages.

In Crusader Kings III, you’re tasked with providing for your people, shielding them from invasions, and expanding your empire by any methods.

Along the way, you’ll have to quash peasant uprisings, travel and conquer distant lands, and stand your ground against Viking invaders.

Set during the Chinese Three Kingdoms period, Total War: Three Kingdoms has you playing as one of eleven rival factions as they strive to become China’s new ruler.

Whereas Civilization prioritizes growing and developing nations of people who need food, shelter, and protection, Three Kingdoms is more concerned with all-out warfare.

It makes several improvements to Total War’s UI and enemy AI behavior, resulting in immersive RTS battles with less time spent in menus and more on the battlefield.

If you’re a Civilization fan, chances are you’ll feel perfectly at home controlling units and resources on the battlefield while spreading influence throughout China.

Currently in Steam Early Access, Kingdoms Reborn is a medieval city builder inspired by the likes of Banished, Anno, and Civilization.

It offers challenging resource management gameplay that’s complemented by robust skill and upgrade trees.

You’ll be overseeing your people’s everyday lives, sending them to work, making sure they eat and get sufficient rest to be productive members of society.

The game uses procedural generation to create its vast world and offers seven distinct biomes with unique flora and fauna.

Sigma Theory has you controlling a nation battling with others for futuristic technology while trying to maintain diplomacy.

Achieving this needs you to dispatch undercover agents to collect information and occasionally create partnerships with the exact countries you seek to outperform.

This gives the game a constant ‘push and pull’ feeling that makes for exciting and emergent gameplay.

Much like Civ, the game attempts to condense many of its systems and concepts into more digestible hints that the typical player can understand.

While there are plenty of Warhammer entries that stand out, Gladius inches its way nearer to Civ through its dynamic 4X structure.

What you end up with is the polished combat of the Warhammer games and streamlined resource gathering.

The only drawback is that it’s unfeasible to play the game diplomatically, with numerous scenarios requiring you to retaliate or commence violence.

This may make it less attractive to 4X veterans but is ideal for novices looking to dip their toes in the genre.

Amplitude is almost unmatched when it comes to challenging 4X gameplay with depth and variety, particularly in the case of Endless Legend.

You play as one of several factions looking to overthrow the current regime in power by sneaking into the kingdom and building an army before the leaders find out.

While units are assigned faction-based stats and behaviors, combat in Endless Legend isn’t instantly executed by the player.

Instead, you pick your strategy at the beginning of a battle and watch it play out, a detail which may not resonate with every gamer.

Paradox Interactive is one of the most celebrated names in the strategy genre and has published just as many, if not more 4X titles as Civilization publisher Firaxis.

However, the company’s most notable success to date would have to be the space-themed grand strategy game Stellaris.

Compared to most games that fall under the 4X umbrella, grand strategy emphasizes both warfare and diplomacy but may also allow for other playstyles.

And just like with the Civ series, there’s no shortage of expansions and add-ons to keep the entertainment going once you’re done with the base game.

Europa Universalis IV has a lot in common with Civilization, focusing on planning out strategies ahead of time to prevent your opponent from gaining a foothold.

Since the game is about overcoming historical imbalances, you’ll have to work tirelessly to keep other nations in check while still providing for your own citizenry.

The campaign can be quite extensive, giving you plenty of time to come to grips with its systems and figure out how to outsmart the AI.

Its scale is a bit more zoomed in than Civ and often requires you to micromanage units rather than issue general commands.

While not as renowned Civ, the Age of Wonders series has always been an exceptional 4X alternative that shifts its focus from Earth’s historical events to a high fantasy setting.

There’s no shortage of strategies to explore, and you’re free to approach things as aggressively or cautiously as you wish.

Additionally, adversaries possess distinct strengths and weaknesses that must be dealt with accordingly.

With that said, Planetfall separates itself from the Sid Meier series by incorporating combat systems modeled after XCOM’s ground battles.

Based on a physical tabletop game, Scythe is a turn-based strategy game that transports you to an alternative version of 1920s Europa left in ruins by WWI.

You’re tasked with leading one of five factions on a mission to conquer territories and gain dominion over ‘The Factory.’

This coveted city-state is responsible for producing some of the finest advanced weaponry known to man, namely giant mechs that have begun shaping society’s future.

However, you’re not the only group vying for power as the remaining factions all have a stake in carving out their own domain.

Another physical board game adapted to digital formats, Gloomhaven is probably the most distinct compared to Civ but worth considering if you enjoy RPG mechanics.

The game takes place in a fantastical-themed world overrun with bandits, demons, zombies, and more, which have caused people to retreat to the security of their homes.

Enter in you, the Guildmaster, the one who will reunite the world and make a heap of money in the process by reopening trade routes and eradicating monsters.

There is a broad selection of recruitable mercenaries with unique abilities, upgrades, and perks to unlock by purchasing new gear for your party.

While Humankind may still be finding its place in the 4X landscape, we’re confident in Amplitude Studios’ ability to get the game where it needs to be.

Billed as a credible Civilization alternative, it sees players rewriting history across 60 distinct periods starting with the Bronze Age through to the contemporary era.

This boils down to time spent influencing societies, making difficult moral decisions, reacting to historical events in real-time, and spearheading scientific breakthroughs.

Even if many of its components feel like a remix of the Sid Meier games, Humankind does have an edge in the visual department coupled with modding support.

Although the original Age of Empires revolved around human history throughout the Stone and Iron Ages, subsequent installments have shifted their focus on the Medieval Period.

Age of Empires IV is a largely successful attempt at recapturing the original trilogy’s magic while offering new experiences tailored for both veterans and newcomers.

In it, players are tasked with managing their civilization’s laborers and military units, eventually turning their small population into a powerful nation.

The game features an expansive 30-hour campaign that sees you advancing through the ages as you collect resources, wage war with enemies, and unlock new technologies.