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Every Sid Meier's Civilization Game Ranked From Worst To Best

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Nazarii Verbitskiy

Gaming - January 28th 2026, 23:55 GMT+1

Sid Meiers Civilization VII intro — About This Gallery:

For this list, we’re sticking strictly to the mainline *Sid Meier’s Civilization* games – from the very first entry all the way to the newest – skipping the many spin-offs the series has collected over the years. Do you agree with our ranking, or are we about to get lovingly roasted by your inner Civ historian? Tell us what we got wrong (or right) in the comments! | © Firaxis Games

Sid Meiers Civilization II — 7. Civilization II (1996)

If you came to the series for clean readability and modern quality-of-life, this one can feel like stepping into a beloved museum exhibit with a few “do not touch” signs missing. *Civilization II* has the classic loop – expand, tech, conquer, repeat – but it also carries a lot of old-school friction: UI quirks, opaque moments, and a tempo that can feel oddly stiff once you’ve lived with later entries. The isometric look is nostalgic, sure, yet it also makes information less instantly legible than the grid-based clarity that came after. What keeps it from being truly “bad” is how foundational it is: so many Civ habits were reinforced here. Still, in a straight ranking, it’s the one that most clearly shows its age first. | © MicroProse

Civilization 1991 cropped processed by imagy — 6. Civilization (1991)

The original game is basically a time capsule you can still play, which is both its charm and its problem. You can feel the DNA of everything the franchise would become, but *Civilization* also runs on an older design philosophy: fewer guardrails, fewer conveniences, more moments where you’re guessing what the system wants. It’s simpler in scope, yet it can be harsher in practice, because the interface and feedback loops weren’t built for modern expectations. That said, the “one more turn” toxin is already there, and it’s kind of wild how quickly you can lose an evening to something this old. When people call it historically important, they’re not exaggerating – just don’t expect it to pamper you. | © MicroProse

Sid Meiers Civilization VII — 5. Civilization VII (2025)

Here’s the tricky one: the newest entry often feels like a smart redesign that’s still settling into itself. The base game of *Civilization VII* has bold ideas about pacing and progression, and when those systems click, it can feel refreshingly decisive compared to the sprawl of later Civ VI expansions. But fresh systems also mean fresh rough edges – balance questions, “wait, that works like that?” surprises, and the sense that the long-term identity will ultimately be defined by patches and expansions. The moment-to-moment is undeniably compelling, though, especially when the game pushes you into meaningful choices instead of letting you autopilot. It’s not a disaster, it’s a work in motion – and that’s why it lands lower than the classics that already know exactly what they are. | © Firaxis Games

Sid Meiers Civilization III — 4. Civilization III (2001)

The jump to more defined strategic identity is the whole appeal here: traits, resources, and clearer differentiation between civilizations gave the series a sturdier backbone. In *Civilization III*, the empire-management feels more deliberate than the earliest games, but it can also feel more rigid – less “invent your own vibe,” more “learn the rules and respect them.” The AI aggression and corruption mechanics can be punishing, and the interface is very much from an era when games expected you to read the fine print and like it. Still, there’s a satisfying toughness to the decision-making, especially around expansion and planning for the long haul. It’s a strong Civ, just not the one most people want to live in forever. | © Firaxis Games

Sid Meiers Civilization IV — 3. Civilization IV (2005)

This is the entry that still gets talked about like a favorite album – partly because it’s incredibly playable, and partly because it crystallized a modern Civ “feel.” The systems in *Civilization IV* are deep without being fussy, and the way it handles economics, diplomacy, and long-term planning still scratches a particular itch. It also introduced ideas that became series staples, while keeping turns snappy enough that you don’t feel buried under busywork. Even if you don’t worship at the altar of mods, the game’s flexibility and readability make it easy to see why so many players stuck around for years. It’s not perfect, but it’s confident – like the franchise found its adult voice and didn’t let go. | © Firaxis Games

Sid Meiers Civilization V — 2. Civilization V (2010)

Hexes changed everything, and the ripple effect is still felt across the genre. *Civilization V* made the map feel tactical in a way older entries never quite managed, especially once one-unit-per-tile turned movement and warfare into actual positioning instead of stack math. The cleaner presentation helps too: information is easier to parse, cities are easier to understand, and the rhythm of play feels smoother even when the decisions get complex. Diplomacy can be chaotic and the AI can be… dramatic, but the core loop is ridiculously addictive. It’s the Civ that converted a lot of new players into lifers, and it holds up because it feels elegant rather than merely old. | © Firaxis Games

1. Civilization VI (2016)

The best argument for the top spot is how often this game surprises you even after you think you “know Civ.” Districts made planning matter from the first settle, forcing you to think in shapes, adjacency, and long-term geography instead of just plopping down buildings in a menu. *Civilization VI* also scales beautifully with content – leaders, systems, and playstyles pile on without completely breaking the foundation, which is rare for a strategy game that’s been expanded this much. It’s colorful, readable, and dense in the good way, where every turn offers a small, meaningful lever to pull. The result is a Civ that feels both approachable and endlessly replayable, which is the whole promise of the series. | © Firaxis Games

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Ranking Civilization is basically asking for an argument – and that’s half the fun. Every era of the series has its die-hards: the one that “just feels right,” the one with the best systems, the one you swear you’ll stop playing at 2 a.m. (and never do).

This worst-to-best rundown weighs what matters on the map: the core loop, the expansions, how each game aged, and whether it still has that “one more turn” poison. Some entries are legends, some are lovable messes, and a couple are the reason certain fans still hold grudges.

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Ranking Civilization is basically asking for an argument – and that’s half the fun. Every era of the series has its die-hards: the one that “just feels right,” the one with the best systems, the one you swear you’ll stop playing at 2 a.m. (and never do).

This worst-to-best rundown weighs what matters on the map: the core loop, the expansions, how each game aged, and whether it still has that “one more turn” poison. Some entries are legends, some are lovable messes, and a couple are the reason certain fans still hold grudges.