Games Like Civilization Great Historical Games & Turn Based Games like Civilization

Civilization is described as 'Turn-based 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) strategy game series where players build a thriving civilization through ages of advancements' and is a very popular Historical Game in the games category. There are more than 25 games similar to Civilization for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Web-based, Android, Linux and iPhone apps. The best Civilization alternative is FreeCiv, which is both free and Open Source. Other Civilization like games are Unciv, Europa Universalis, HUMANKIND and Endless Legend.

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Civilization alternatives are mainly Turn Based Games but may also be Historical Games or RTS Games.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Civilization.
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Turn-based 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) strategy game series where players build a thriving civilization through ages of advancements.

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Civilization alternatives page was last updated Mar 20, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. FreeCiv icon
     69 likes
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    Freeciv is an open-source, turn-based strategy game based on Civilization II. Inspired by the history of human civilization, the game commences in prehistory and your mission is to lead your tribe from the stone age to the space age...

    36 FreeCiv alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub

    FreeCiv Features

    1.  Single player
    2.  Multiplayer
    3.  Portable

    FreeCiv VS Civilization

     
    • Almost everyone thinks FreeCiv is a great Civilization alternative.

    • FreeCiv is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Civilization.

    • FreeCiv is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Civilization.

    • FreeCiv is Free and Open SourceCivilization is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Unciv icon
     21 likes
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    UnCiv offers a streamlined, gameplay-focused reimplementation of the hugely popular Civilization that's ad-free, open-source and built for speed. The game loads and plays very fast, offering a balanced design that lets players focus on...

    9 Unciv alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • itch.io

    Unciv Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Turn Based
    3.  Multiplayer
    4.  Single player
    5.  Player vs Player

    Unciv VS Civilization

     
    Comments about Unciv as an Alternative to Civilization
    jensthenent
    Positive Mar 10, 2023
    0

    In terms of gameplay it is an almost 1:1 copy of Civ-5. It is also easy to create mods, so you can adjust the ruleset, graphics, add units, add nations ... you name it.

    Civilization Icon
    Unciv icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Unciv is a great Civilization alternative.

    • Unciv is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Civilization.

    • Unciv is Free and Open SourceCivilization is Paid and Proprietary
  3. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Europa Universalis IV gives you control of a nation to guide through the years in order to create a dominant global empire.

    11 Europa Universalis alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Steam

    Europa Universalis Features

    1.  Single player
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Multiplayer
    4.  Player vs Player

    Europa Universalis VS Civilization

     
    Comments about Europa Universalis as an Alternative to Civilization
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Jul 31, 2020
    0

    I played this, along with it's other games, i.e CK II, and Hoi 4, and this has nothing to do with it, amazing game I recommend it to real time strat people, but has nothing to do with civilizations, but good game still.

    Theseus Samuel
    Negative Jan 28, 2019
    -1

    CIV is turn based while Eu4 is more or less a rts. Civ starts from the begining of time but Eu4 starts with your cities and stuff already going. It is a different genre

    Guest
    Negative Dec 22, 2019
    -3

    civilization starts with you building something from near nothing, this game starts you with everything. this is more of an rts although civ is turn based

    Civilization Icon
    Europa Universalis icon
    • Some users think Europa Universalis is a great Civilization alternative, some don't.

    • Europa Universalis is the most popular commercial alternative to Civilization.

    • Europa Universalis is Paid and ProprietaryCivilization is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. HUMANKIND icon
     7 likes
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    HOW FAR WILL YOU PUSH HUMANKIND?.

    8 HUMANKIND alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam

    HUMANKIND VS Civilization

     
    Comments about HUMANKIND as an Alternative to Civilization
    Guest
    Positive Apr 15, 2021
    -1

    HUMANKIND is a good alternative to Civilization because it advances the genre in ways the past two entries in the Civilization series have failed to do.

    Civilization Icon
    HUMANKIND icon
    • HUMANKIND is Paid and ProprietaryCivilization is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Endless Legend is a turn based 4X fantasy-strategy game from the makers of Endless Space. The purpose of the game is to dominate the world "Auriga" with one of the eight races through either diplomacy or war while developing new...

    13 Endless Legend alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Wine
    • Steam

    Endless Legend Features

    1.  Multiplayer

    Endless Legend VS Civilization

     
    Comments about Endless Legend as an Alternative to Civilization
    luarocks
    Negative Aug 27, 2020
    -1

    The game is not available for Linux.

    Guest
    Positive Jan 10, 2020
    -1

    I love Endless Legends' depth of army customizations, the incredible detailed lore, beautiful graphics alongside super fun gameplay. If people want a fantasy Civ experience, this is the one.

    Civilization Icon
    Endless Legend icon
    • Most users think Endless Legend is a great Civilization alternative.

    • Endless Legend is Paid and ProprietaryCivilization is also Paid and Proprietary
  6. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Unlike other Paradox titles (such as the first two Europa Universalis series), Crusader Kings is a dynasty simulator with similarities to role-playing video games in that it focuses on a trait-based individual whose primary goal is the growth...

    10 Crusader Kings alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Steam
    • GOG.com
    • Xbox
    • Playstation

    Crusader Kings Features

    1.   Game Series
    2.  Single player

    Crusader Kings VS Civilization

     
  7. Freeciv21 icon
     Like
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    Freeciv21 is a free open source turn-based empire-building 4x strategy game, in which each player becomes the leader of a civilization. You compete against several opponents to build cities and use them to support a military and an economy.

    5 Freeciv21 alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Freeciv21 Features

    1.  Multiplayer

    Freeciv21 VS Civilization

     
  8. C-evo icon
     9 likes
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    C-evo is a freeware empire building game for Windows.

    With a time scope of several thousand years, it covers aspects of exploration and expansion, industry and agriculture, warfare and diplomacy, science and administration. C-evo follows the spirit of popular turn-based strategy.

    16 C-evo alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows

    C-evo VS Civilization

     
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    With a time scope of several thousand years, it covers aspects of exploration and expansion, industry and agriculture, warfare and diplomacy, science and administration. C-evo follows the spirit of popular turn-based strategy games from the mid 90s, but with more emphasis on...

    16 C-evo: New Horizons alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    C-evo: New Horizons Features

    1.  Player vs Player
    2.  Portable
    3.  Endless gameplay
    4.  Single player
    5.  Ad-free

    C-evo: New Horizons VS Civilization

     
  10. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Port of Freeciv to Android - similar to Civilization series.

    17 Freeciv for Android alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    Freeciv for Android Features

    1.  Optimized for Touch screen

    Freeciv for Android VS Civilization

     
10 of 36 Civilization alternatives