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Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

48 Games like Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization that you should try

Games like Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization · Find similar →

If Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization left you wanting more, this list of 48 similar games is for you. Each one shares part of its essence — turn-based strategy, historical setting and single-player focus — and the NextGameLike editorial team ranks them by a similarity score computed across 9 attributes. Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic) comes closest (74/100).

NextGameLike78/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy
Tags
SoloMultiplayer
Year 2008Dev Aspyr Media
Stores

Quick answer

The closest game to Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic) — scoring 74/100 on our similarity scale. Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI and Sid Meier's Civilization® V follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

48 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization. Each one has been evaluated across 9 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 Colonization (Classic)

74
NGL96
Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)
Closest on genre
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2014Dev MicroProse Software · Nightdive StudiosPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Its point of contact with Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. To that it adds base building and an isometric view. They part company on game mode: this one brings resource management and pixel art.

Released 6 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Setting100Visuals86Progression77Game mode54
2

Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI

74
NGL88
Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
Closest overall match
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2016Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization worked for you because of deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on base building and an isometric view. What it adds of its own: tactical combat and resource management.

Same studio: Aspyr Media.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression81
3

Sid Meier's Civilization® V

71
NGL92
Sid Meier's Civilization® V
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyBase BuildingIsometric
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~27hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

The thread back to Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization runs through turn-based strategy, historical setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on an isometric view and base building. The distance is in progression — its own ground is exploration and discovery.

Same studio: Aspyr Media.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode93Setting70Progression47
4

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

74
NGL71
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerBase BuildingIsometricTactical
Year 2014Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

Shelved next to Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization for good reason: turn-based strategy, single-player focus and base building. The common ground extends to an isometric view. Where the two diverge is setting and progression: exploration and discovery, and a sci-fi setting.

Released 6 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Progression46Setting0
5

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

71
NGL81
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerFantasyHistoricalIsometric
Year 2008Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3

It shares the essentials of what Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization does: deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. To that it adds an isometric view. Its own ground is tactical combat.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
6

Crusader Kings II

70
NGL81
Crusader Kings II
StrategyGrand Strategy
MultiplayerSoloHistoricalFantasyIsometric
Year 2012Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

It meets Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization on 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 4 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting75
7

Crusader Kings III

64
NGL89
Crusader Kings III
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalIsometricTactical
Year 2020Dev Paradox Developement Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

The genre is the same as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization’s, and with it deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to an isometric view. Where the two diverge is progression and setting: a medieval setting and resource management.

Released 12 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting50Progression0
8

Advance Wars

60
NGL100
Advance Wars
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricTacticalSci-Fi
Year 2001Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

The genre is the same as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization’s, and with it deep simulation, single-player focus and an isometric view. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a sci-fi setting and 2D presentation.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals56Setting0
9

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

60
NGL91
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricSpaceSci-Fi
Year 1999Dev Firaxis Games · Electronic ArtsOn Linux · PC · Mac

On paper it is what Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is — turn-based strategy, single-player focus and an isometric view — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings a space setting and a first-person view.

It predates Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals67Setting0
10

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

60
NGL91
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricTacticalSci-Fi
Year 2005Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

Genre puts it alongside Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, and so does 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

MASSIVE CHALICE

66
NGL65
MASSIVE CHALICE
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloFantasyHistoricalTacticalMagic
Year 2015Dev Double Fine ProductionsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

The genre is the same as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization’s, and with it deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and game mode: crafting mechanics.

Released 7 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Setting82Game mode54Progression0
12

Songs of Syx

56
NGL95
Songs of Syx
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloFantasyBase BuildingIsometricTactical
Year 2020Dev Jake the Dev · Jakob de LavalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Same family as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization: deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on an isometric view and base building. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is exploration and discovery, and a medieval setting.

Released 12 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Progression63Game mode54Setting37Visuals34
13

Dwarf Fortress

57
NGL91
Dwarf Fortress
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloFantasyBase BuildingIsometricStealth
Dev Bay 12 GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

It comes from the same genre as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization and shares deep simulation, fantasy world and single-player focus. Both also lean on base building and an isometric view. The distance is in progression and game mode — its own ground is resource management.

Genre100Visuals100Setting57Game mode53Progression46
14

Turmoil

57
NGL86
Turmoil
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalCo-opPvP
Year 2016Dev Gamious · PlaydigiousOn PS4 · Linux · Android

Genre puts it alongside Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, and so does deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: co-op play and resource management.

Released 8 years after Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization.

Genre100Setting75Game mode65Progression0Visuals0
15

Travellin Cats in China

51
NGL92
Travellin Cats in China
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloHistoricalTacticalNarrativeOpen World
Dev KremlingamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Same family as Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization: deep simulation, historical setting and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and visuals — its own ground is resource management and 2D presentation.

Genre100Setting76Game mode54Progression0Visuals0

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If Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization 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 Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization 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.