Sid Meier's Colonization

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 539 reviews

graphics21 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Timeless classic with engaging gameplay that has stood the test of time.
Great for teaching children reading skills and offers a relaxing experience.
Highly addictive and replayable, with a nostalgic charm that appeals to long-time fans.

Graphics are dated and may not appeal to modern gamers.
AI can be frustrating, often leading to unbalanced combat outcomes.
Lacks modern conveniences like a tutorial or intuitive controls, which may deter new players.

graphics
80 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of this classic game are widely regarded as dated and primitive by modern standards, often described as charmingly retro or pixelated. While some players find the visuals unplayable or an eyesore, many appreciate the nostalgic value and argue that the gameplay far outweighs any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not impress, they do not detract from the engaging and strategic gameplay experience.
- “The graphics while they are dated are lovely.”
- “The mood music, the ambient sound effects and the detailed graphics all were state of the art for its time, thanks for bringing it back as I so fondly remember it.”
- “The graphics may be pixelated, but that adds to the style; I feel like it hasn't aged a day.”
- “The graphics are dated and the UI is primitive by today's standards, but man is this an engrossing game!”
- “The graphics cannot compare to modern games or the more colorful civilizations.”
- “The graphics suck, but who cares, the playability and replayability is amazing.”
gameplay
54 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this classic title is widely praised for its timeless mechanics and engaging depth, allowing players to immerse themselves for hours despite its dated graphics. While some find the controls clunky and the interface frustrating, many reviewers appreciate the strategic complexity and balance of the game, highlighting its unique approach to colony management and resource trading. Overall, it remains a beloved experience that combines simplicity with intricate decision-making, making it a standout in the genre.
- “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.”
- “The mechanics of this old gem are better and well balanced, while the new one is boring because its 3D graphics are pretty but the mechanics were dumbed down and are too easy.”
music
33 mentions
55 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic charm and quality, with many reviewers highlighting its beautiful MIDI soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The blend of American folk and native tunes, along with the ability to play personal CDs, adds to the game's unique auditory appeal. Overall, the soundtrack 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 soundtrack is great, the game mechanics are simple on the surface but have tons of depth, and it's impossible not to contract one more turn syndrome.”
- “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.”
- “Midi soundtrack of my youth.”
replayability
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to features like great map randomization and strategic depth, allowing players to enjoy endless variations in gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and cultural portrayals, the overall playability and replay value remain strong, making it a timeless classic in the turn-based strategy genre.
- “This has to be one of the most replayable old school games.”
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid 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 exist, 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.”
- “There are frequent crashes that disrupt gameplay.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs that make it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered several game-breaking issues that ruined my experience.”
story
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The story of the game presents a complex narrative that reflects on themes of colonization, exploitation, and genocide, which some players feel have not aged well. While it encourages critical engagement with these themes, it also allows players to explore different approaches, such as spreading faith or using military power, to interact with indigenous populations.
- “Perhaps you can 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 may not have aged well, but it's important to stay critical of colonization and the exploitation and genocide it entailed. Play Colonization for what it is and enjoy.”
- “Some elements of the story haven't aged well. It's important to remain critical of colonization and the exploitation and genocide it entailed, but you can still play Colonization for what it is and enjoy it.”
- “Perhaps you should 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?”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players who enjoy strategy games appreciate the grinding aspect, particularly for its late-game micro-management opportunities, making it a rewarding experience for dedicated gamers.
- “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 grinding required to progress is frustrating and feels like a chore rather than fun.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
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
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
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.”