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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 601 reviews

graphics22 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Timeless classic with engaging gameplay that has stood the test of time.
Rich strategic depth with a focus on resource management and worker placement.
Nostalgic experience that evokes fond memories for players who enjoyed it in the 90s.

Dated graphics and user interface that may deter new players.
Combat mechanics can feel random and frustrating at times.
AI behavior can be annoying, often surrounding player colonies and hindering progress.

graphics
95 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 complement the engaging gameplay, allowing them to overlook the graphical shortcomings. While some express a desire for a graphical update, the consensus is that the game's depth and mechanics remain its strongest attributes, making it enjoyable despite its visual limitations.
- “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 take nothing away from the top-notch gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics are dated and the UI is primitive by today's standards, but man is this an engrossing game!”
- “Graphics are completely unplayable.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The gameplay is widely praised for its timeless mechanics and engaging depth, allowing players to enjoy hours of strategic colony management despite its dated graphics. While some find the controls clunky and the interface awkward, many appreciate the simplicity and fun of the core gameplay, which remains challenging and rewarding. Overall, it is considered a classic that successfully balances straightforward mechanics with intricate decision-making, making it a nostalgic favorite among players.
- “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 gameplay focuses on building up an economic empire in the new world, with your primary source of income coming from shipping valuable goods back to Europe to sell.”
- “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
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its nostalgic charm and quality, especially for a title from 1994. The soundtrack, described as beautiful and captivating, effectively complements the gameplay, featuring a mix of American folk and native tunes that enhance the overall experience. While some note minor issues with sound quality, the consensus is that the music remains a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment and replay value.
- “The jolliest soundtrack you ever did hear.”
- “The music is beautiful and amazing for its time.”
- “Incredible music that makes this game one of a kind.”
- “The only things that are meh is the music.”
- “The music is a bit off but the joy of the game is still there.”
- “I played this way back in the day on my first PS3... the music still sounds the same as it did back then.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with features like great map randomization and strategic depth contributing to its enduring appeal. Despite some dated graphics and controversial themes, players find it more enjoyable and replayable than many modern titles, making it a timeless classic in the turn-based strategy genre.
- “Pure replay value, even after all these years.”
- “Great map randomization and infinite replayability.”
- “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
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The story received a mixed review, with a score of 4/10, highlighting that while it has not aged well, it invites players to critically engage with themes of colonization, exploitation, and genocide. Players can choose to focus on spreading faith or using military power, but the narrative's design and simplicity are noted as appealing aspects.
- “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.”
- “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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability, running smoothly on Windows 10 and 11 via DOSBox, as well as on Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Mint. While some minor glitches and exploits are present, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “You likely played this in the distant past if you are considering buying it now, so only one note: DOSBox still runs great on Windows 10 and Windows 11; you press play and it goes.”
- “Runs great on Linux Ubuntu/Mint.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay.”
- “There are too many stability issues; I often find myself restarting.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find humor in the unexpected and absurd moments of the game, such as a powerful dragoon being defeated by an unarmed colonist or wagon, adding a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay experience.
- “It's kind of funny witnessing a dragoon losing a round to an unarmed colonist or wagon from time to time.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players who enjoy strategy games appreciate the grinding aspect, particularly those who favor late-game micro-management, as it adds depth and engagement to the gameplay experience.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The amount of time required for grinding is excessive, leading to burnout rather than enjoyment.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the graphics and interface may need improvement, the emotional impact of the game remains strong, resonating deeply with players.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is well-optimized and conveniently packaged as a DOSBox executable, providing a smooth experience right out of the box.
- “A pleasant surprise, it's already optimized and pre-packaged into a DOSBox executable.”
- “The game runs smoothly on my older hardware, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible for a wide range of systems.”