Sid Meier's Colonization

About

Sid Meier's Colonization is a strategy game that challenges you to discover, explore, and colonize the New World on behalf of a colonial power. Building a successful colony requires managing resources, establishing trade routes, and maintaining relations with natives and rivals. After creating a powerful nation, players must launch a revolution to declare independence and secure their territory.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,202 reviews

graphics44 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Timeless classic with engaging gameplay that has stood the test of time.
Rich in nostalgia, offering a unique blend of strategy, resource management, and historical context.
Highly replayable with various strategies to explore, making it enjoyable for both new and veteran players.

Graphics and UI are dated, which may deter new players accustomed to modern visuals.
Combat mechanics can feel random and frustrating, leading to unexpected losses.
AI behavior can be annoying, often surrounding player colonies and hindering development.

graphics
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
66%
11%
The graphics of this classic game are widely regarded as dated and primitive by modern standards, often described as pixelated and reminiscent of the DOS era. However, many players find that the nostalgic charm and simplicity of the visuals enhance the overall experience, allowing them to focus on the engaging gameplay. While some express a desire for graphical updates, the consensus is that the game's mechanics and depth far outweigh any shortcomings in its visual presentation.
- “Great classic with such fantastic gameplay that even today it holds up to the best, despite its apparent aged graphics.”
- “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 graphics are beyond dated, but it's classic strategy gameplay that still managed to suck me in and kill a whole day of my life.”
- “Graphics are completely unplayable.”
- “There's no windowed mode so it forces you to play fullscreen with stretched graphics; kinda ruins it for me.”
gameplay
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay is widely praised for its timeless mechanics and engaging depth, allowing players to immerse themselves in strategic colony management despite its dated graphics. While some find the controls clunky and the interface awkward, many appreciate the simplicity and addictive nature of the gameplay, which encourages hours of exploration and decision-making. Overall, it remains a classic that balances fun and complexity, making it a nostalgic favorite among fans.
- “Great classic with such fantastic gameplay that even today it holds up to the best, despite its apparent aged graphics.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, and game designers of the past were geniuses in that they managed to create 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.”
- “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.”
- “While a lot of complaints get leveled at the remake for butchering the mechanics of the original.”
music
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its nostalgic charm and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. The MIDI soundtrack, while reflective of its time, is described as beautiful and captivating, often evoking fond memories for long-time fans. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing 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 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.”
- “The only things that are meh is the music.”
- “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.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many reviewers highlighting its great map randomization and strategic depth that allows for endless gameplay variations. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and controversial themes, players find it to be a timeless classic that remains more enjoyable than many modern titles. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable old-school games available.
- “Great map randomization and infinite replayability.”
- “The detail into 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 in 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.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The story received mixed reviews, with a score of 4/10, as players noted that certain elements have not aged well, particularly regarding themes of colonization, exploitation, and genocide. While some appreciate the game's design and simplicity, they encourage a critical perspective on its narrative, suggesting players can engage with the story through various gameplay strategies, such as spreading faith or military conquest.
- “But Colonization (for its design and simplicity) and Alpha Centauri (for its AI and story/background) are two of my favorites.”
- “Some things in the story didn't age well; stay critical of colonization and the exploitation and genocide it entailed - but play Colonization for what it is and enjoy.”
- “Some things in the story didn't age well. Stay critical of colonization and the exploitation and genocide it entailed - but play colonization for what it is and enjoy.”
- “Perhaps you instead 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?”
- “Story 4/10”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, running smoothly on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Mint via DOSBox. While some minor glitches and exploits are present, 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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find humor in the unexpected outcomes of battles, particularly when a powerful dragoon is defeated by an unarmed colonist or a wagon, highlighting the game's ability to create amusing and unpredictable moments.
- “It's kind of funny witnessing a dragoon losing a round to an unarmed colonist or wagon from time to time.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players who enjoy strategy games appreciate the grinding aspect, particularly in the context of late-game micro-management, which 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, making it easy for users to run without additional setup.
- “A pleasant surprise, it's already optimized and pre-packaged into a DOSBox executable.”

Buy Sid Meier's Colonization

12h Median play time

12h Average play time

12-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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