SummaryLegendary designer Sid Meier presents the next evolution in strategy games, with the most addictive, compelling gameplay yet. Explore the alien planet that is your new home and uncover its myriad mysteries. Discover over 75 extraordinary technologies. Build over 60 base upgrades and large-scale secret projects for your empire. Conquer your enemie... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
Developer:Firaxis Games
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Released On:
Feb 12, 1999
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
92
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
92
100% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Essential. Brilliant.
98
Strategy gamers, the Holy Grail hath been found.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
80% Positive
206 Ratings
206 Ratings
12% Mixed
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
8% Negative
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
Mar 22, 2024
10
I use the Social Engineering screen from this game to explain to people that just because the US is a free market democracy and others have been planned police states, doesn't mean that they are the only options that could exist. And that within those combinations, that your societies values still matter. I tie in that even impeached republican Richard Nixon ran a free market democracy, but that he prioritized knowledge as a core value. And that from the high school movement in the 1920s forward, having knowledge as our values is what enabled us to become so strong. And contrast it with Wealth values policies like tax cuts for the wealthy while ignoring the knowledge values policies to make education accessible to everyone, that were already proven successful in our own history.... And then I use the Future Societies to hammer it into people's heads that eventually we will progress past many outdated views. Cybernetic utilizes automation to free humans for more creative tasks. Eudemonic encourages citizens to achieve happiness through fulfillment in a tolerant society without violence. Or we can continue the path of Thought Control, using triggers that create a population that is obedient, loyal, and rejects outside ideas.... I also use SimCity 2000 tax rates to explain the concept that if taxes are too low, you can't afford the services that enable a strong and thriving economy. And if taxes are too high, your government will kill all growth, and create a downward spiral, and also... won't be able to afford the services that enable a strong and thriving economy. In conclusion, I believe that all members of congress and presidential candidates should be required to demonstrate that they can successfully balance these priorities by succeeding in these two games before they are given the green light to prove that they are incapable and fail to effectively manage the government in the real world.
Jul 15, 2022
10
I used to think this was the best game ever. After replaying it recently, I have concur with my past self.
91
Another one of those games that can make hours pass like minutes...With its top-notch diplomacy, civilization building, and wargame elements, Alpha Centauri is the new pinnacle of turn-based strategy games.
90
With his latest title, it isn't so much that Sid Meier has done it again, but rather he's done more. And more of a good thing it is indeed. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is an excellent sequel to "Civilization" and "Civilization II."
90
While it's not the groundbreaking game that Civilization was, it's a very worthy successor and it'll probably stay on your hard drive a long, long time.
85
A sublime, turn-based, empire-building, strategy game. At the same time, I can't help but feel like I have played it before.
80
It might sit a little short of Transcendence, but at four o'clock in the morning you probably won't even notice.
Jul 2, 2022
10
I was feeling nostalgic, so when I saw this game on GOG, I had to buy it. It remains, by far, the best 4X game of all time. It's a pity that its "spiritual successor" wasn't up to its standards. It's amazing how game development studios relied on fantastic gameplay when they couldn't rely on pretty graphics to sell their products.
Jan 30, 2020
10
I'm just here to give props to this absolute classic...still so disappointed by beyond earth
Sep 1, 2016
10
One of the best turn based strategy games of all time. Honestly, would be awesome if they left this game as it is, and just did a graphical remake to bring it into 2016.
Mar 7, 2011
6
Fun, but broken six ways from side-ways. compared to Civ II-IV, this was an ambitious but ultimately failed attempt at a strategic game. Worth exploring to find all the ways you can break it at least...
Aug 18, 2025
3
Alpha Centauri is a sci-fi themed spin-off of Civilization II. The AI is still brain-dead, the graphics are even uglier, and the balance is awful. The developers got rid of the fortify ability and scrapped the infantry/armour/artillery triangle - the result is an offense focused positioning game. I'm sure every player of Civ II thought what the game really needed was more micro-management. By rushing laser speeders, you can comfortably wipe your neighbouring opponents off the map before they even get off the ground. Three mods attempt to fix the balance - Thinker makes the AI smarter, Growth removes features the AI struggles with, and Will to Power tries to re-balance in the style of the original Civ II. Having tested all of them, I can say that none of them are able to make enough fixes to make Alpha Centauri worth playing.
