Sid Meier's Colonization

About

Sid Meier's Colonization is a single player turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by MicroProse Software, Inc and was released on October 9, 2014. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Sid Meier's Colonization is a strategy game that transports you to the Colonial Era. Choose one of four colonial powers and set sail to discover, explore, and colonize the New World. Manage resources, establish trade routes, and navigate political and military strategy to create your own powerful nation while dealing with native populations and rival powers.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,078 reviews

graphics42 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

A timeless classic that has stood the test of time, offering engaging gameplay and nostalgia for players.
Great for teaching children reading skills and providing a relaxing gaming experience.
Highly replayable with deep strategic elements, making it a favorite among fans of the genre.

Graphics and user interface are dated, which may deter new players accustomed to modern visuals.
AI can be frustrating, with issues in combat mechanics and diplomacy that can lead to unbalanced gameplay.
Some players may find the micromanagement aspect overwhelming or tedious.

graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The graphics of this classic game are widely regarded as dated and primitive by modern standards, often described as charmingly retro or pixelated. While many players acknowledge that the visuals do not hold up against contemporary titles, they emphasize that the engaging gameplay and nostalgic value far outweigh any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that if players can overlook the outdated graphics, they will find a deeply enjoyable and strategic experience.
- “The graphics while they are dated are lovely.”
- “The graphics may be pixelated, but that adds to the style; I feel like it hasn't aged a day.”
- “The mood music, the ambient sound effects, and the detailed graphics all were state of the art for its time (says with a smile and a wink) thanks for bringing it back as I so fondly remember it.”
- “The graphics are dated and the UI is primitive by today's standards, but man is this an engrossing game!”
- “Graphics are completely unplayable.”
- “The graphics cannot compare to modern games or the more colorful civilizations.”
gameplay
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay is widely praised for its timeless mechanics and depth, offering engaging and strategic experiences despite dated graphics. Players appreciate the balance and simplicity of the mechanics, which allow for intricate decision-making and addictive gameplay, often leading to hours of enjoyment. However, some critiques highlight clunky controls and a lack of polish in newer iterations, suggesting that while the core gameplay remains strong, improvements in user interface and combat mechanics are needed.
- “The gameplay is fantastic and game designers of the past were geniuses in that they managed to get such a timeless classic, despite the constraints and hardware of the day.”
- “The trading and managing production gameplay is still so satisfying, and I remember being impressed with the automated trade route system back when this came out.”
- “Gameplay is well balanced, relatively fast-paced (yet turn-based) and just advanced enough without making it complicated.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay is really clunky and the controls are straight up awful.”
- “However, as other reviewers have said, this remake doesn't replicate the combat mechanics of the original, which detracts hugely from the game.”
- “The gameplay is more complex than most civ games, and you will find that expanding too fast is easy as you will lose track of what's going on everywhere because there's so much micromanagement.”
music
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The music in Sid Meier's Colonization is widely praised for its nostalgic charm and quality, with many players describing it as beautiful and captivating, especially for a game from 1994. The MIDI soundtrack, which incorporates American folk and native tunes, enhances the gameplay experience and evokes fond memories for long-time fans. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's enjoyment and replay value.
- “The music is beautiful and amazing for its time.”
- “Incredible music that makes this game one of a kind.”
- “The music is a bit off but the joy of the game is still there.”
- “The only thing I can really praise is the music.”
- “The music included with the game also had a generous mix of American folk and native tunes, often played to correspond with actions and experiences in the game.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, with features like great map randomization and strategic depth contributing to an experience that remains engaging over time. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and cultural portrayals, players find the gameplay mechanics and variety of scenarios—such as colonizing different maps—offer endless replay value. Overall, it is regarded as a timeless classic in the turn-based strategy genre.
- “Great map randomization and infinite replayability.”
- “The detail in the game logic and replayability is seldom found in games today.”
- “The strategy element is first class, and the ability to colonize the real Americas, randomly generated ones, or your own map means this game has endless replayability.”
- “The detail into the game logic and replayability is seldom found in games today.”
- “I always felt this version had much better replay value than the Civ IV modded version.”
- “The strategy element is first class and the ability to colonize the real Americas, randomly generated ones, or your own map means this game has endless replayability.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game demonstrates strong stability across various platforms, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux (Ubuntu/Mint), with users reporting smooth performance when using DOSBox. While some minor glitches and exploits are noted, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on Linux Ubuntu/Mint.”
- “DOSBox still runs great on Windows 10 and Windows 11; you press play and it goes.”
- “Runs great on Linux Ubuntu/Mint.”
- “Some glitches and exploits, but nothing that can spoil the experience.”
- “Some glitches and exploits, but nothing that can spoil the experience.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The story in the game presents a controversial take on colonization, prompting players to critically engage with themes of exploitation and genocide. While some elements may not have aged well, players are encouraged to approach the narrative with a sense of enjoyment, whether by spreading faith or exerting military influence over indigenous populations.
- “Perhaps you focus on spreading the good word of your faith to lure lost souls across the Atlantic, or use your military might and missionaries to subdue the local natives as converts?”
- “Some aspects of the story haven't aged well. It's important to remain critical of colonization and the exploitation and genocide it involved, but you can still enjoy the game for what it is.”
- “The narrative encourages players to either spread their faith to convert lost souls across the Atlantic or to use military force and missionaries to subdue the local natives.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, particularly those who enjoy strategy and late-game micro-management, as it adds depth and engagement to the gameplay experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is overshadowed by a desire for improved graphics and interface, suggesting that players feel the visual presentation detracts from their overall emotional engagement.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized and conveniently packaged as a DOSBox executable, providing a smooth experience for players without the need for additional setup.
- “A pleasant surprise, it's already optimized and pre-packaged into a DOSBox executable.”

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12h Median play time

12h Average play time

12-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sid Meier's Colonization is a turn-based strategy game with fantasy and historical themes.

Sid Meier's Colonization is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing Sid Meier's Colonization.

Sid Meier's Colonization was released on October 9, 2014.

Sid Meier's Colonization was developed by MicroProse Software, Inc.

Sid Meier's Colonization has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Sid Meier's Colonization is a single player game.

Similar games include Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete, Lords of the Realm II, Rise of Nations, Master of Magic Classic and others.

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