Sid Meier's Civilization II (1996)

Developer: MicroProse Software, Inc.
Publisher: MicroProse Software, Inc., MacPlay, Activision
Platforms: PlayStation
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Rating: 4.4 of 5, 174 player ratings
Main story: about 50 hours

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A deep, unhurried empire-building experience where every decision carries long-term consequence across centuries of civilization.

methodicalcerebralexpansiveslow-pacedrewardingabsorbinghistorically groundedcomplex

About

A turn-based strategy video game set around several different historic civilizations.

What players say

The poster child for the addictive 'just one more turn' compulsion, with players losing whole nights to its deep 4X empire-building loop. Regarded as a defining, genre-shaping strategy classic.

Screenshots

Sid Meier's Civilization II screenshot 1

Sid Meier's Civilization II screenshot 2

Sid Meier's Civilization II screenshot 3

Sid Meier's Civilization II screenshot 4

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.