Civilization Wiki

The Civilization series contains several games with many features in common. This is a brief comparison of some of the features.

Overview   Leaders   Great wonders   Natural wonders   City-states   Technologies    

This table includes MicroProse/Firaxis games in the Civilization franchise, excluding games from other franchises (Colonization, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri) and games from other publishers (Civilization: Call to Power, C-evo), among others.

" in a column for an expansion pack, means that it adds nothing to the category.

Game Civ I Civ II Civ III Civ III: PTW Civ III: Conquests Civ IV Civ IV: Warlords Civ IV: BTS CivRev Civ V Civ V: G&K Civ V: BNW Civ VI Civ VI: R&F Civ VI: GS Civ VI: New Frontier Pass Civ VI: Leader Pass Civ VII
Release year 1991 1996 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012 2013 2016 2018 2019 2021 2023 2025
# difficulty levels 5 6 (introducing Deity) 6 6 8 (introducing Demigod and Sid) 9 (introducing Settler, Noble and Immortal) 9 " 5 8 " " 8 " " " " 6
# civs 14 21 18 26 34 18 24 34 16 18 (+7 with DLC) 34 43 19 (+7 with DLC) 34 42 50 " 30 (+8 with DLC)
# leaders 14 42 18 26 34 26 36 52 16 18 (+7 with DLC) 34 43 19 (+9 with DLC) 37 46 55 leaders;
3 personas
67 leaders;
9 personas
26 leaders; 5 personas
# Wonders of the World 21 28 24 ? ? 30 33 41 21 28 (+3 with DLC) 37 47 30 (+4 with DLC) 42 49 53 " 35 (+3 with DLC)
# Small/ National Wonders None None 10 ? ? 13 13 14 0 8 10 11 None " " " "
Government types 5 6 (introducing Fundamentalism) 5 " 7 (introducing Feudalism and Fascism) 5*5 Civics " " 6 10*6 Social policies " 9*6 Social policies, 3*16 Ideology tenets 10 " 13 " " 9
# techs 67 89 82 82 84 86 86 92 47 74 80 81 68 techs & 50 civics " 77 techs & 60 civics " "
Religion Generic religious buildings Generic religious buildings Generic religious buildings " " Multiple identical " " Generic religious buildings Generic religious buildings and Pantheons and Beliefs and Reformation Beliefs Generic religious buildings, pantheons, beliefs, theological combat and Religious victory " " " " Generic religious buildings, pantheons, and beliefs
Espionage Diplomats Diplomats and Spies Spies " " Spies " Espionage points, Spy specialist Spies No Espionage Espionage, including Diplomats Espionage, Diplomatic Visibility " " " " Diplomacy screen
Map grid Square Isometric square Isometric square " " Square (3D) " " Square (3D) Hexagonal (3D) " " Hexagonal (3D) " " " " Hexagonal (3D)
Resources Bonus only Bonus only Bonus, 8 Strategic & 8 Luxury " " 11 Food, 9 Strategic & 15 Luxury " " Bonus only Bonus, 6 Strategic & 15 Luxury and 7 new Luxury resources and 3 new Luxury resources from Indonesia 10 Bonus, 7 Strategic & 30 Luxury and 3 new Luxury resources " and 1 new Luxury resource and 1 new Bonus resource "
Unique civilization features None City graphics only Unique units, civilization strengths " " Unique units, Leader traits and Unique buildings " Era-specific abilities Unique units, Unique buildings & Unique abilities (and Unique improvements with DLC) and Unique improvements " Unique units, Unique buildings, Unique districts and Unique abilities (leader and civilization) " " " " Unique units, Unique buildings, Unique improvements, Unique civics,

Unique abilities (leader and civilization), and associated wonders

Great People None None Great leader " " Artist, Engineer, Merchant, Prophet & Scientist and Great General and Great Spy Artist/Thinker, Builder, Explorer/Industrialist, Leader & Scientist Artist, Engineer, General, Merchant & Scientist (and the unique Khan for Mongolia) and Great Prophet and Admiral and Great Musician, Great Writer and the unique Merchant of Venice for Venice Artist, Admiral, Engineer, General, Merchant, Musician, Prophet, Scientist & Writer " " Comandante General " Depends on the civilization
Hit points None By unit statistics By unit experience " " By unit strength " " " By unit strength " " By unit strength " " " " By unit strength
Included scenarios None Rome & World War II None None 9 3 8 (11 in total) 12 (23 in total) None None (+6 with DLC) 3 (9 in total) 2 (11 in total) 6 (+6 with DLC) " 2 (14 in total) " "
Other new features Reputation Culture, Borders, War weariness, Air missions, Forced labor Multiplayer, New game modes " Health, Cottages Vassals " Relics City-States, Happiness, Embarking, Puppets Mercantile and Religious City-States International trade routes, Tourism, World Congress Districts, Civic Tree, Policy Cards  Governors, Loyalty, Ages Climate, Power, World Congress, Grievances Leader personas " Civilization switching