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Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete

40 Turn-Based Strat games like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

We filtered the 50 games similar to Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete down to the 40 that fit the “Turn-Based Strat” category. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI and Sid Meier's Civilization® V top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

iRank84/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy
Tags
SoloMultiplayer
Year 2001Dev Firaxis

Quick answer

Within the “Turn-Based Strat” category, the closest game to Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete is Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution — scoring 84/100 on our similarity scale. Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI and Sid Meier's Civilization® V follow close behind.

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The best turn-Based Strat games like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete

40 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete. Each one has been evaluated across 9 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalFantasyHistoricalIsometric
IGDB81· 8
Year 2008Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical.

≠ Missing: exploration and discovery.

Civilization compressed for consoles: games finish in a couple of hours, the tech tree is trimmed hard, and turns are fast enough to play with a controller comfortably. That compression is the trade — the diplomacy and economic layers are thin, and anyone coming from the PC entries will find the strategic ceiling low.

Released 7 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100
Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalFantasyIsometric
Steam👍 86%· 374KRAWG👍 88%· 1.4KMC88IGDB87· 20OC89· 95
Year 2016Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: base building and resource management, while skipping exploration and discovery

The sixth installment in Sid Meier’s Civilization series.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

Released 15 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression0
Sid Meier's Civilization® V
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalFantasyExplorationIsometric
Steam👍 96%· 209KRAWG👍 91%· 2.0KMC90IGDB87· 5
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~27hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ If you enjoyed Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, expect turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, setting scifi and setting medieval

Real-time strategy genre has always been about domination over your opponent, and Civilization in general expanded on the concept. Civilization 5 allows players to pick one of the 43 civilizations available in, including DLCs and the expansions.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

Released 9 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode93Setting70Combat65Progression22
Crusader Kings II
StrategyGrand Strategy
MultiplayerSoloHistoricalFantasyIsometric
Steam👍 91%· 74KRAWG👍 64%· 755MC82IGDB84· 2
Year 2012Dev Paradox Development Studio · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ If you enjoyed Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, expect turn-based strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping combat tactical

Crusader Kings II is a global RTS which takes place in the Middle Ages of Europe. The players will govern a house of nobility of that time, and ensure that its heritage will last for centuries.

Released 11 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting75
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerHistoricalFantasyIsometric
Steam👍 87%· 1.5KRAWG👍 69%· 163MC83IGDB77· 3
Year 2008Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, expect turn-based strategy, deep simulation and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling and base building, while skipping combat tactical

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization is a remake of the famous turn-based strategy game Sid Meier's Colonization which was released in 1994. The game was totally remade with the Civilization IV engine.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

Released 7 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals100Progression0
Crusader Kings III
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalIsometric
Steam👍 90%· 140KRAWG👍 89%· 465MC86IGDB91· 3OC90· 94
Year 2020Dev Paradox Developement Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, expect deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, sandbox freedom and real-time strategy, while skipping fantasy world

A grand strategy game about dynasties rather than borders: characters have traits, stress, secrets and lifespans, and most of the story comes from managing relatives who want what you have. Far more approachable than CK2. Warfare is the shallow part, and once you understand the systems the difficulty largely disappears past the first century.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

Released 19 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting50Progression0
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalExplorationIsometric
Steam👍 60%· 23KIGDB83· 11OC81· 67
Year 2014Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Shared with Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and setting scifi, while skipping historical setting

Civ V's systems relocated to an alien planet, with affinity paths that visibly change your units as you commit to one. The alien wildlife adds early pressure Civ never had. It was criticised for feeling like a reskin — the diplomacy is shallow, the victory conditions blur together, and the planet never develops the character Alpha Centauri had.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: setting and progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Released 13 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Progression25Setting0
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricSci-Fi
IGDB91· 3
Year 2005Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi and visual 2d, while skipping historical setting

The dual-screen entry: two COs per army with tag powers, plus a much longer campaign than its predecessors. More systems on the board than any other entry. Those systems are also the criticism — tag powers can swing a map decisively, and the balance between COs is looser than in the earlier, tighter games.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: setting.

Released 4 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals69Setting0
Advance Wars
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricSci-Fi
IGDB100· 1
Year 2001Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Shared with Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping historical setting

Turn-based tactics stripped to essentials: unit triangle, terrain bonuses, capture points, and COs whose powers meaningfully change how you play. Readable within one mission. The campaign difficulty spikes sharply in its later maps, and there is no undo — a misread on turn three can cost a map you then replay from the start.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals56Setting0
Ultimate Arena
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalFantasyHistoricalIsometric
Steam👍 80%· 992RAWG👍 14%· 21
Year 2016Dev TriverskePlaytime ~4hOn PC · Linux

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, horror tension and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

Many will enter, one will win. It has taken a few millennia for the art of the arena to be perfected, but we've finally done it. Ultimate Arena puts you in charge of the greatest battle royale, the one that you pick who fights and the conditions they fight under. Take charge by setting up landmines, deploying care packages, and initiating arena events.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: visuals.

Released 15 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Setting73Game mode54Visuals47
Turmoil
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalCo-op
Steam👍 93%· 16KOC72· 11
Year 2016Dev Gamious · PlaydigiousOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe relaxing, co op and PvP competition, while skipping fantasy world

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression and visuals.

Released 15 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Setting75Game mode65Progression0Visuals0
Songs of Syx
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalFantasyExplorationIsometric
Steam👍 95%· 8.2K
Year 2020Dev Jake the Dev · Jakob de LavalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, survival mechanics and vibe casual, while skipping historical setting

Inspired by Nordic mythology and fused with nostalgia from the ’80s-’90s, Songs of Syx aims to deliver a unique city-builder experience on an epic scale. You start off as a colony-sim, and tend to your minions, micromanage your assets and try to stay off your neighbor’s radar.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression and visuals.

Released 19 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Combat100Game mode54Setting37Visuals34Progression22
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerIsometricSpaceSci-Fi
Steam👍 91%· 581IGDB91· 1
Year 1999Dev Firaxis Games · Electronic ArtsOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for turn-based strategy, deep simulation and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: setting space, setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping combat tactical

The most thematically ambitious 4X ever made: factions built on ideology rather than nationality, terraforming that reshapes the planet, and a unit designer that lets you build exactly what your doctrine implies. The writing is exceptional. The interface is genuinely archaic, and running it on modern hardware usually requires community patches.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: setting.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals67Setting0
Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloHistoricalFantasyIsometricBase Building
Steam👍 96%· 1.1K
Year 2014Dev MicroProse Software · Nightdive StudiosPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and historical setting

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, base building and resource management, while skipping combat tactical

Special OfferOfficially Licensed Sid Meier's Colonization T-Shirts are available on Amazon! About the GameThe Tradition of Civilization Continues The New World lies before you with all its peril, promise and infinite possibility. Your colonists anxiously follow you to shore.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

Released 13 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Setting100Visuals86Game mode54Progression0
MASSIVE CHALICE
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalFantasyHistoricalMagic
Steam👍 72%· 1.9KRAWG👍 36%· 131MC73IGDB70· 3OC74· 32
Year 2015Dev Double Fine ProductionsPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete, expect deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, roguelike runs and deep RPG systems, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

Massive Chalice is a fantasy turn-based tactical game in the vein of XCOM. ###Plot The player assumes the role of an immortal leader in a fantasy kingdom. A dark power called Cadence repeatedly attacks the kingdom, corrupting everything it touches.

Where it drifts furthest from Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete: progression.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Released 14 years after Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete.

Genre100Setting82Combat58Game mode54Progression0

Complete list of turn-Based Strat games like Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete

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