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Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

49 Games like Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword that you should try

Games like Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword · Find similar →

Looking for games like Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword? The NextGameLike editorial team analyzed its gameplay DNA — turn-based strategy, historical setting and single-player focus — against over 6,700 titles. These 49 alternatives are ranked by real similarity, not marketing tags. Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI leads with 84/100, followed by the rest of the list.

NextGameLike86/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy
Tags
SoloMultiplayer
Year 2007Dev Firaxis
Stores

Quick answer

The closest game to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI — scoring 84/100 on our similarity scale. Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization and Sid Meier's Civilization® V follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

49 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. Each one has been evaluated across 8 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI

84
NGL88
Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
Closest on genre
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2016Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. The common ground extends to base building and an isometric view. It sets itself apart with tactical combat and resource management.

Released 9 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression81
2

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

84
NGL80
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization
Closest overall match
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2008Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

If Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword worked for you because of turn-based strategy, historical setting and single-player focus, the same is here. To that it adds base building and an isometric view. Its own ground is adventure storytelling.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals100
3

Sid Meier's Civilization® V

81
NGL92
Sid Meier's Civilization® V
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~27hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Its point of contact with Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is turn-based strategy, historical setting and single-player focus. To that it adds base building and an isometric view. They part company on progression: this one brings exploration and discovery.

Released 3 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode93Setting70Progression47
4

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

81
NGL81
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerFantasyHistoricalIsometric
Year 2008Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3

What brings it close to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. To that it adds an isometric view. Its own ground is tactical combat.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
5

Crusader Kings II

79
NGL81
Crusader Kings II
StrategyGrand Strategy
MultiplayerSoloHistoricalFantasyIsometric
Year 2012Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Held in common with Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword: turn-based strategy, historical setting and multiplayer gameplay. Both also lean on an isometric view. What it adds of its own: deep RPG systems and a sandbox world.

Released 5 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting75
6

Crusader Kings III

73
NGL89
Crusader Kings III
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalIsometricTactical
Year 2020Dev Paradox Developement Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Genre puts it alongside Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, and so does deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on an isometric view. The distance is in progression and setting — its own ground is a medieval setting and resource management.

Released 13 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting50Progression0
7

Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)

70
NGL96
Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2014Dev MicroProse Software · Nightdive StudiosPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

The thread back to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword runs through deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to an isometric view and base building. Where the two diverge is game mode: adventure storytelling and resource management.

Released 7 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Setting100Visuals86Progression77Game mode54
8

Advance Wars

67
NGL100
Advance Wars
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricTacticalSci-Fi
Year 2001Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

Genre puts it alongside Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, and so does deep simulation, single-player focus and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting and 2D presentation.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals56Setting0
9

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

67
NGL91
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricSpaceSci-Fi
Year 1999Dev Firaxis Games · Electronic ArtsOn Linux · PC · Mac

Genre puts it alongside Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword, and so does turn-based strategy, single-player focus and an isometric view. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a space setting and a first-person view.

It predates Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals67Setting0
10

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

67
NGL91
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricTacticalSci-Fi
Year 2005Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

The genre is the same as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword’s, and with it deep simulation, single-player focus and an isometric view. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and 2D presentation.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals69Setting0
11

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

70
NGL71
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerBase BuildingIsometricTactical
Year 2014Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

It comes from the same genre as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword and shares turn-based strategy, single-player focus and base building. To that it adds an isometric view. They part company on setting and progression: this one brings exploration and discovery, and a sci-fi setting.

Released 7 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression46Setting0
12

Songs of Syx

63
NGL95
Songs of Syx
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloFantasyBase BuildingIsometricTactical
Year 2020Dev Jake the Dev · Jakob de LavalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

It comes from the same genre as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword and shares deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. The common ground extends to base building and an isometric view. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: exploration and discovery, and a medieval setting.

Released 13 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Progression63Game mode54Setting37Visuals34
13

Dwarf Fortress

64
NGL91
Dwarf Fortress
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloFantasyBase BuildingIsometricStealth
Dev Bay 12 GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

It comes from the same genre as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword and shares deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. To that it adds base building and an isometric view. They part company on progression and game mode: this one brings resource management.

Genre100Visuals100Setting57Game mode53Progression46
14

Turmoil

65
NGL86
Turmoil
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalCo-opPvP
Year 2016Dev Gamious · PlaydigiousOn PS4 · Linux · Android

The genre is the same as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword’s, and with it deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. They part company on progression and visuals: this one brings co-op play and resource management.

Released 9 years after Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.

Genre100Setting75Game mode65Progression0Visuals0
15

Travellin Cats in China

58
NGL92
Travellin Cats in China
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloHistoricalTacticalNarrativeOpen World
Dev KremlingamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

It comes from the same genre as Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword and shares deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: resource management and 2D presentation.

Genre100Setting76Game mode54Progression0Visuals0

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Explore games similar to Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword by category

If Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the turn-Based Strat or the simulation that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword look-alike but simply the best Grand Strategy Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Strategy Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.