Sid MEier's Civilization (1991-)

Civilization was developed by Sid Meier and Bruce Shelley at MicroProse and originally released in 1991 for MS-DOS PCs. Published by MicroProse, the game quickly became a defining entry in the turn-based strategy genre. It was later ported to other platforms, including Amiga, Atari ST, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and later Windows and Macintosh versions. The game set the groundwork for a long-running franchise that would span decades and influence countless other strategy titles.

In Civilization, players guide a civilization from the dawn of human history into the modern age and beyond. The goal is to build an empire that can stand the test of time, achieved through a mix of exploration, city-building, diplomacy, scientific advancement, and military conquest. Players begin with a single settler and must explore a randomly generated world map, founding cities and managing their development. Victory can be achieved by either conquering all other civilizations or winning the space race by launching a mission to Alpha Centauri.

Though early PC titles like Railroad Tycoon showed Meier’s knack for systems design, Civilization was his most ambitious project to date. The game did not have a formal musical soundtrack in its original DOS release, but later ports such as the SNES version featured background music to enhance the experience. The ambient and classical-style tunes in these versions added atmosphere, reflecting the changing eras of human progress. In terms of prequels, Civilization was a brand-new concept at the time, though it drew inspiration from board games like Risk and Civilization by Francis Tresham.

The game was heavily promoted as a deep and intellectual alternative to action games, targeting gamers who enjoyed planning, history, and long-form strategy. It received widespread critical acclaim for its depth, replayability, and innovation, earning numerous "Game of the Year" awards and high rankings in gaming publications for years afterward. Its addictive "one more turn" gameplay loop became legendary, cementing its place in gaming history and laying the foundation for one of the most successful strategy franchises of all time.

Key Features of Civilization:

• Turn-based strategy gameplay spanning thousands of years

• Randomly generated world maps for high replayability

• Multiple paths to victory including military, science, and diplomacy

• City management and resource development systems

• Interactions with rival civilizations including war and negotiation

• Historical technology tree with advancements from the Stone Age to Space Age

Images from MobyGames