Your favorite Civ 6 alternatives

[Ownsya]

I wish it told you that somewhere in the game. I always assumed I wanted to "upgrade" all of my citizens always, which might explain why my economy would stall in weird ways.

It's been a few years since last I played it so my memory is a bit fuzzy. Now that you mention it, I think you do actually "upgrade" citizens to the upper class but in the version I played I think you had control over which residences to upgrade and so you had control over the number of citizens in each class. But either way, in the end Anno is all about logistics, efficiency, and finding common denominators. It is quite formulaic. You find out with time that there is a specific ratio between all the various things in the game that is "ideal", in that it leads to 0 waste. The most satisfying part for me was achieving these ideal ratios.

For example, and I'll just make up some numbers here, a bakery produces 5 bread per hour and each bread requires 1 flour, so the bakery needs 5 flour per hour. Any more flour ends up in excess going to storage which eventually fills up leading to waste. Any less flour and your bakery will idle at times or not work at full capacity. To get 5 flour you have mills that maybe produce 2 flour per hour. So two mills get you 4 flour per hour (shortage), but 3 mills get you 6 (excess). So the ideal ratio requires 5 as the 'common denominator'. If you have 5 mills you get 10 flour per hour which can supply exactly 2 bakeries working at full capacity. The ideal ratio in this case is 5 mills : 2 bakeries. Then the bakeries require wheat to produce the flour, so you need farms, and you find the number of farms you need to supply the mills. If it isn't a nice 1:1 ratio you might end up having to alter the entire supply chain's ratios to achieve max efficiency. And so so on for each type of supply chain until you understand the exact ratios needed for a complete supply chain from raw materials to intermediary to final products.

This kind of supply chain management ends up making its way into the social class system because for every "noble" household their needs require products that are created by lower class citizens, whose prerequisite products are also manufactured by a lower class, etc all the way down to the laborers who farm, fish, and mine. So you end up with another perfect ratio of population per class.

I'm geeking out over this and slowly tempting myself to get back into that game haha, it's quite an addictive process and of course the wiki should already have all the perfect ratios figured out so you can better plan things from the start. When I was playing the mobile version the wiki for it was still new and I contributed a little bit with some guides and designs. Then comes the issue of trading and deciding how much goods should cost. The global market which was made up of sales from other players' games did not always have reasonable or sound pricing and we had a big debate with economics calculations over how much things should cost at minimum to at least break even. It was all very fun and interesting for me

 

[pokiehl]

Video Games are such a small part of my life, really.

I’ve bought EU IV and most expansions on special. Very keen to play, but just haven’t had time to get into it.

I’m keeping an eye on BattleTech. Bit more patching and expansion, and I think that could be good turn based fun.

I may also get Dwarf Fortress when that finally gets re-released. Looks awesome.

Diablo 4 announcement is interesting. RPGs and 4X have a lot of similarities. But D3 was just so awful, I find it hard to believe D4 will be any better.

I don't think you can say "videogames are a small part of your life" - you're a very active participant on a videogame enthusiast forum to the tune of averaging more than 3 posts a day since you joined

Anyone active here clearly cares about videogames

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

Anyone active here clearly cares about videogames

Or is Unclear on the concept of "get a life". . .

 

[Icicle]

In terms of other strategy games I also really like Northgard.

I'm gonna back this up, Northgard is a surprisingly fun little gem. It's pretty cheap too, especially if you catch a sale, and can give a lot of entertainment. It's RTS but heavy on the resource management and expansion which should appeal to civ players.

 

[Patine]

So, I don't know about you guys, but if you are anything like me, in spite of complaining about AI, UI and mechanics, you play civilization more than other games...perhaps by a large margin. Steam says I currently have about 2000 hours each in Civ 5 and Civ 6. This is not because there are no alternatives, it's just that very few games tend to pull me in the same way, even if they are good. There are exceptions however, which brings me to the topic of this thread: which other strategy games do you play the most, besides Civilization? Are there any games you wanted to get into, but just couldn't?

The genre here is "Civilization alternative". It doesn't have to be exactly the same type of game, just something which scratches the same itch for you.

My top Civ 6 alternatives:

1. Stellaris - This game is the one I have the most hours in outside the civ series, for good reasons. It is heavy on exploration and expansion, but also does warfare and diplomacy well. It combines relatively deep systems with a very usable interface which gives a lot of transparency. It also helps that the game is full of quests, events and flavour. There is just so much to enjoy here.
2. Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes - Another great one...my only real complaint about this fantasy 4X is that I don't really enjoy the visual style. Mechanically, however, it is a real gem. This one is also relatively heavy on exploration, combined with building up your empire and heroes. Heroes have RPG-style upgrade trees which have a significant impact on their use as army leaders. Combat is a very enjoyable tactical turn based affair on a separate battle map. Also, I feel should mention this: your cities actually level up and earn special buildings when they grow past certain thresholds. Awesome.

The game I wanted to get into, but couldn't:

• Endless Legend - I know it is good. I know everybody was struck by how lovely it looked (although I found the style a bit busy). I understand that there is huge variety in the factions which should give great replayability, but...something just didn't click for me. Looking a the map doesn't fill me with the same kind of excitement as in some other games. I don't know. I wanted to love it, but it just never happened.

Civ2 (especially the Test of Time)
Alpha Centauri
Age of Empires 1,2, and 3
Age of Mythology
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (NOT Battlefronts)
Lord of the Rings: the Battle for Middle-Earth 2
Warcraft 3
StarCraft 1
Rise of Legends

 

[Mark the Bold]

Recently got back into Civ 6 GS and its still amazing. Probably the greatest and most consistent franchise in all of gaming.

That said, I was having a torrid love affair with Total Warhammer II for the past year. It really is a first rate game. While it brings even a Nasa supercomputer to its knees on high settings, it has a near perfect balance between the strategic level map empire gameplay and real time fighting. I know its not for everybody, but it has some of the best voice acting in RTS games. Everytime I hear the Emperor Karl Franz say "Bring me to my men!" I get pumped.

Before that I got sucked into the gaming masterpiece that is the Witcher 3. I played and loved the first two games, but it really is head and shoulder above any game I've ever played. Again, I know its not for everyone, but the production value and writing is a masterpiece on every level.

I also had a Dark Souls adventure. 1 through 3. Really fun and immersive games, although I stayed away from the online community because its pretty toxic. The best part of Dark Souls is just how merciless the game is. Pontiff Sulyvahn boss fight brought out hatred in me I never thought existed.

 

[Morningcalm]

Does AoM even run on windows 10? I've been relying on the steam version for years after my cd stopped functioning. (CDs for computer games! Can you imagine?)

The Steam definitive edition works for me, though it's buggier than the original.

 

[Karmah]

You know, this is interesting to me...when playing games like XCom, I tend to reload everytime someone dies, as I obsess over keeping everyone alive. Yet, I suspect I would enjoy ironman more, as it would raise the stakes significantly.

I've been there, savescumming phase, and I can tell you that, while it is far more stressful, the game experience and satisfaction is so much better that I would end up as well saying 'only to be played in Ironman'. Once you pass that humbling re-learning the game phase. It is really not the same once every moves matters in the long run.

 

[jozef57]

i do not know what my favorite alternative is, but i am seeking one after first finding civ 6 the best ever and i played all version since 2 after the latest changes the game just anoyes me all the time civ 6 has become a game only for a few diehards and not the general public as far as i know nobody here wants to play anymore including me

 

[Patine]

The Steam definitive edition works for me, though it's buggier than the original.

AoM Definitive Edition from Steam works tolerably for me. A bit laggy loading up, but otherwise fine.

i do not know what my favorite alternative is, but i am seeking one after first finding civ 6 the best ever and i played all version since 2 after the latest changes the game just anoyes me all the time civ 6 has become a game only for a few diehards and not the general public as far as i know nobody here wants to play anymore including me

Isn't that just a LITTLE BIT passive aggressive there? Just a tad?

 

[Tiger Genocide]

Diablo 3 and Skyrim are the only PC games with thousands of hours besides Civ 5 and 6 that I play. You can also add Vox Populi for Civ 5 as well. I play that alot in binges.

 

[WillowBrook]

Diablo 3 and Skyrim are the only PC games with thousands of hours besides Civ 5 and 6 that I play. You can also add Vox Populi for Civ 5 as well. I play that alot in binges.

You must be an interesting person. I play a lot of Civ VI while my husband plays much Diablo 3, but neither of us finds the other game attractive (and I've seen other civ players disparage Diablo). You've poured time into both. No need to analyze your interests (unless you want to), but I wonder what pulls a person into both games.

 

[Moosus Maximus]

Endless Space II is probably the best non-Civ turn-based strategy game I've played. Really absorbing. Only thing I'm not keen on is the combat (but then who plays Civ for that, either?)

In terms of other strategy games I also really like Northgard.

Between Endless Space and Stellaris, I'd also say the play style of Endless Space is closer to Civ, in that there are lots of intermediary goals, unique structures (aka 'wonders'), and a predictable tech tree progression. Leader and trade interaction is pretty similar.

Stellaris has quests, which can be pretty random. No wonders. You get to pick from 3 or so randomly drawn new technologies to research in each of your three science categories. Leaders age, die and are replaced. Technology gets pretty off the hook in late game.You can gene modify and interbreed your empire's races. You can evolve into borg. You can gain psionic powers. You can have a space whale as a pet.

I like them both, but for different reasons.

 

[Patine]

Between Endless Space and Stellaris, I'd also say the play style of Endless Space is closer to Civ, in that there are lots of intermediary goals, unique structures (aka 'wonders'), and a predictable tech tree progression. Leader and trade interaction is pretty similar.

Stellaris has quests, which can be pretty random. No wonders. You get to pick from 3 or so randomly drawn new technologies to research in each of your three science categories. Leaders age, die and are replaced. Technology gets pretty off the hook in late game.You can gene modify and interbreed your empire's races. You can evolve into borg. You can gain psionic powers. You can have a space whale as a pet.

I like them both, but for different reasons.

I haven't heard of either at all, strangely.

 

[Lexicus]

Stellaris has quests, which can be pretty random. No wonders.

Hmm, I would dispute this, Stellaris has Megastructures and the ascension perk to unlock the strongest ones is actually called Galactic Wonders.

They're more like national wonders though, because every empire can build its own.

i do not know what my favorite alternative is, but i am seeking one after first finding civ 6 the best ever and i played all version since 2 after the latest changes the game just anoyes me all the time civ 6 has become a game only for a few diehards and not the general public as far as i know nobody here wants to play anymore including me

I recommend Civ 4. Best Civ game to this day.

 

[tetley]

I played a lot of Diablo 2, pre-runes, and a big part of my rationale was I didn't consider myself married to any one particular genre. D2 and I guess Civ3 at the time had different strong points. D2 was online, but not quite massively-multiplayer, and you had status and prestige, and a little player-vs-player. Civ3 didn't really have online, and very little prestige beyond just this board's HoF. Also, D2 you could just turn on-and-off, as real-life calls. For Civ...nope. Once France DoW's you, that is your priority in life. So, Diablo 2's need for prestige drew me in, while Civ3's cerebral challenge drew me. The variety is what drew me to both. However, D2 never quite consumed my life--which I liked. There's only so many SoJ's you can get and so many twinked characters you can run through in your quest for the perfect Imbued rare Amazon bow, before it puts you to sleep.

Civ3, though.... I lost nights of sleep over that. And that Kenny G saxophone soundtrack for the Modern Era, playing all night through 4am.... That was the stuff for nightmares. My roommate thought I was nuts for playing all night. But he also knew I had just broke up with my girlfriend, and was having a really hard time with that. See? Thank God for game developers. And the wonderful good they do for guys who broke up with their girlfriends.

 

[Rosty K]

That'd be EU.

But it has some conflicting requirements:
1) Need to quit your job to play a proper game;
2) Need a better job to afford all the DLC

 

[Moosus Maximus]

I haven't heard of either at all, strangely.

A caveat with Stellaris, too. There is a LOT of $ DLC. There is also currently a lot of grumbling about overdue bug and balance issues. There are AI complaints too (Big surprise, right?)

The mod community is really the saving grace for Stellaris. There is some really good stuff out there.

 

[tetley]

A caveat with Stellaris, too. There is a LOT of $ DLC. There is also currently a lot of grumbling about overdue bug and balance issues. There are AI complaints too (Big surprise, right?)

The mod community is really the saving grace for Stellaris. There is some really good stuff out there.

That sounds like the cost model for Stardock: don't fix the obvious bugs and balance issues in the software you already paid for, but...later come new DLC and expansion packs you can pay more for...which, in turn, have more obvious bugs and balance issues in those, too. And then once they release the DLC, they've got this big web of cross-compatibility, where they will release a patch which fixes something in the expansion pack, but it breaks something for those who did not get the expansion pack. At first you think, "If I just buy this one expansion pack or DLC, that will patch all the issues I am having," but...nope....

Not surprisingly, people have voted with their feet. It's why I'm not telling you what the game is.

 

[Sostratus]

A caveat with Stellaris, too. There is a LOT of $ DLC. There is also currently a lot of grumbling about overdue bug and balance issues. There are AI complaints too (Big surprise, right?)

The mod community is really the saving grace for Stellaris. There is some really good stuff out there.

Paradox has their business model on dlc, it's not for everyone. Although it can lead to game getting supported with content for like 7 years...
I don't know what kicked up the hornet nest on "bug and balance issues" which are mostly just late game slow down (civ has these too.) It's a bit funny because like civ, a lot is locked away from a modder's view, but some of the fixes would be so trivial I am shocked they designed them like that in the first place. Having made some mods for it and poked around, all they'd need to do is ctrl+x the one calculation causing the problem and ctrl+v it to a better trigger event. I've just reduced the incidence of that calc 100-200x! Amazing! But it's locked away from us, so we cannot fix it ourselves.

In civ terms, it would be like if the game recomputed how to allocate your citizens to tiles and specialist slots, for all cities in the world, on an almost constant basis (about 100 times a turn,) rather than say, when the number of citizens in a city changes or the available tiles to work changes.

The game is absolutely playable through to the end, perhaps not on the larger galaxy sizes for all computers, though.

I know they'll never do it again for a decade+ but I really would love Beyond earth II: civ6 systems boogaloo, only this time we just release an actual backstory and pre-landing plot. They stated that they had written "reams of material" for BE, but then they decided to keep almost all of it hidden from us-to keep the player from feeling too hemmed in narrative-wise. They didn't recognize how much free "character development" mainline civ games have when every faction has a whole real history for people to go to, so it just felt shallow. Sad, because they did some amazing things!