# What is the best Civilization game of all time?

> From the turn-based original that invented the 4X genre to bold era-switching reinventions, every Civ entry brings a different flavor of just one more turn. Which is your greatest civilization?

*By YPB Team · Published May 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-civilization-game-of-all-time*

---

## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Civilization**
   Sid Meier's 1991 original that invented the turn-based 4X strategy genre and introduced Just One More Turn addiction to PC gaming.
2. **Civilization II**
   The 1996 sequel that refined the formula with improved diplomacy, advisors, and a legendary endgame scenario.
3. **Civilization III**
   The 2001 entry that introduced unique civilization traits and the cultural victory condition, making each empire feel distinct.
4. **Civilization IV**
   The 2005 classic praised for its deep religion, economics, and diplomacy systems, narrated memorably by Leonard Nimoy.
5. **Civilization Revolution**
   The 2008 console-friendly entry that distilled the Civ experience into an accessible, faster-paced format for new audiences.
6. **Civilization V**
   The 2010 entry whose one-unit-per-tile hex grid made combat tactical and whose expansions Brave New World brought it to legendary status.
7. **Civilization Beyond Earth**
   The 2014 sci-fi spiritual successor to Alpha Centauri where humanity colonizes a distant planet across three ideological affinities.
8. **Civilization VI**
   The 2016 entry with district-based city planning and a cartoonish art style that many fans consider the franchise's deepest and most replayable entry.
9. **Civilization VII**
   The 2025 reboot introducing a bold three-ages system and a new civilization-switching mechanic between eras.

Tags: games, strategy, classics, civilization