Sid Meier's Civilization II is a classic strategy game from MicroProse. In this free re-release of the 1996 turn-based strategy entry, you control one of 21 historical civilizations and guide them. Civilizations advancing through the ages unlock new technologies, buildings, and units. The game is played on a mix of real-world and fictional maps, tiled to accommodate buildings and unit placements.

Granted, the graphics are severely dated for Sid Meier's Civilization II, but it boasts a timeless soundtrack, plus it helped define the Civ franchise. Some of its features persist until Civilization IV and Civilization V.

Experience the classic strategy game

In Sid Meier's Civilization II, players start with the primitive version of their chosen nation. They must then build buildings, research technologies, and gather resources until they can advance, from the Ancient World to the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and into the Modern World. Aside from new techs, units, and buildings, every era unlocks Wonders, which are special buildings that provide bonuses.

Civ II only has two win conditions, unlike its successors with more gameplay opportunities. You can either conquer all other civilizations or be the first to build a spaceship to Alpha Centauri. Additionally, the game ends by the year 2020, which sets limited turns for most games. At this point, the winner is determined by the scores. This game also supports mods, allowing you to access more content.

Like any Civilization game, it’s not as accessible as other RTS games, primarily because of its steep learning curve. Each civilization has its own strengths and weaknesses. In terms of its difficulty, the AI is noteworthy, even considered advanced for its time. Other than this inherent difficulty among Civ games, the only setback for modern players is its seriously dated graphics.

The Civ franchise finding its roots

Although there are more complex and visually appealing entries to the Civilization series, it’s still worth checking out the franchise’s roots with Civilization II. The 1996 RTS is a definite improvement over the original Civ game, and introduces a couple of concepts that helped shape the games released after it. As a Civ game, it will definitely feel lacking by modern standards, but for nostalgic purposes, it’s a must-try.