Best Civilization-esque building sim games?

[Xeogred]

This is a genre that I think I'd really sink into once I finally take the plunge and check a few out (PC adventure games is another one I need to tackle). When it came to RTS's, my favorite aspect of those games was always... just building things, constructing units, and making cool bases. Never really the action and fighting. So that always gets me thinking, maybe I'd like games that focus more on the building/management elements instead? Seems like a lot of stuff out there I haven't touched or don't know about.

Alpha Centauri is one that stands out a lot to me since I'm a big sci-fi buff. I see people saying a lot of good things about it too. Looks complex as heck, but pretty cool. Maybe others here would recommend it?

Then of course maybe even stuff like Sim City I've always wondered about. Always enjoyed the SNES one, but you could only do so much on that one... haha. So maybe I should check out 2000 for the PC or maybe start with a newer one that my PC can maybe handle.

Then stuff like Civilization itself... maybe I'd like them, not really sure. But they do sound really interesting.

So yeah, what is everyone's favorites and some good starting recommendations for games like this?

[Erik_Twice]

The best Simcity game is Simcity 4 by a really wide margin. It's the most nuanced and the tighest of them all. A problem many economic games have is that once you get a profit you just grow bigger and bigger and it doesn't really have much meaning. In Simcity 4 you always need something better, the needs of the city grow with its population and soon your sims demand a train network and an airport or a big park and you have to provide that costly stuff if you want to grow.

It's also a gorgeous game. It only needs a 500Mhz computer so it will run on anything modern.


You can also try Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 with the maps from the original game (you can download them from the internet). It's a very fun building game where space and money constrains are tight enough that you have to care about everything you do yet you are free enough so as to build cool rollercoasters and parks. I really recommend it.

Also: OpenTTD (Lazy to type lalalala)


Of course, these games aren't anything like Civilization but I don't think you are looking for a Civilization game, you are looking for a building game.

[Xeogred]

Yeah you're probably right about the difference between sims and stuff like Civilization. Where would Alpha Centauri fit in?

I think I'll definitely look into Sim City 4 then.

Rollercoaster Tycoon! Haha wow, totally forgot about that series. I definitely played the original a bit ages ago and it was pretty cool.

[MrPopo]

Alpha Centauri is Civilization II ON A NEW PLANET! The only major thing that was added was that your military units are designed from a series of components. It isn't as in-depth as Master of Orion 2, but it's much more nuanced than Civ's "units that match history" standard.

Personally I'd recommend you start with Sim City 2000; don't just jump into 4. Sim City 2000 has the major elements that are in the sequels (zoning density, variety of transit, water, variety of power solutions) but doesn't include some of the complexity of 3000 and 4 (no waste management, no farmland, no neighbor city deals). It's a huge jump over Sim City, and once you get used to it you can go to 4.

[Xeogred]

I guess that's a good suggestion for Sim City there. Work my way up to the newer ones. That and I think I really do want to play 2000 anyways heh, definitely has a lot of charm and appeal with the visuals I'd say.

[lisalover1]

I totally agree with Norris; if you like sim games, then you owe it to yourself to play Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. The GOG version contains all the expansion packs, so I would recommend that version.

[Zing]

I suggest Civilization IV. It is, by far, the most newbie-friendly of the series. The user interface is smooth and fast. The game is well-balanced and fun.

Civ II and Alpha Centauri had their days, but I would never go back. Far too much micromanagement and city spamming. Civ IV fixes both of these critical issues.

[fastbilly1]

Civ II and Alpha Centauri had their days, but I would never go back. Far too much micromanagement and city spamming. Civ IV fixes both of these critical issues.

But Alpha Centauri still does not have a modern equivalent - atleast that I am aware of.

One of the best parts about AC is that you can buy it, and RCT2 and SC2000, from GoG for $6 or $10

$6:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/sid_meie ... a_centauri
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/simcity_ ... al_edition

$10:
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/rollercoaster_tycoon_2

Be forewarned though, if RCT2 grabs you, you can kiss your nights away.

[Ivo]

I would really like to see Alpha Centauri 2 and Master of Magic 2. I really like those originals. I also like Civ. Given that Civ evolved and these other 2 of my favourites didn't, I would welcome sequels. It is not like each sequel of Civ has been just more of the same and AC and MoM certainly had a bunch of rough edges that could be polished (particularly MoM, which is also older).

Colonization was also pretty good but I didn't like it as much as Civ, AC and MoM.

Ivo.

[MrPopo]

Civ 2 holds a special place in my heart because it was my first. And science was massively overpowered. Apparently it was even more overpowered in Civ 1, but in Civ 2 I was always an age ahead of everyone else and Leo's Workshopped all my warriors up to riflemen.