Freeciv
A free, open-source empire-building strategy game inspired by Civilization, playable in single-player or online.
Open source alternative to:
Freeciv is a free and open-source turn-based empire-building strategy game inspired by the Civilization series. Players guide a civilization from the founding of its first city through technological eras, competing for dominance in a world map.
The game offers a deep tech tree, government systems, diplomacy, trade, espionage, and both peaceful and military paths to victory. It can be played in single-player against AI or in multiplayer with up to hundreds of players on a shared server.
Freeciv is licensed under GPL-2.0 and is completely free. It is one of the oldest continuously developed open-source strategy games, with a classic client plus a web client that runs in the browser, and a large community server network for online play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platforms does Freeciv run on?
Freeciv runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it is also available as a web client that runs in any modern browser without installation.
Can I play Freeciv online against other players?
Yes. Freeciv supports multiplayer for hundreds of players, and there are public game servers where you can join or host games.
Does Freeciv require the original Civilization game?
No. Freeciv is a completely independent game with its own open-source codebase and graphics. It is inspired by Civilization but does not require any paid files.
Freeciv vs Unciv