FreeCiv

Genre(s): Strategy/Turn-Based Strategy,
Simulation/City-Building

3rd Party Rating: None found, but a solid review by Ken Griffy at http://osg1.com/2010/08/freeciv-review/

Price: Free

Link(s): http://freeciv.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
OR
http://www.download-free-games.com/freeware_games/freeciv.htm

Description:
FreeCiv is a FREE cross-platform/open-source turn-based strategy game inspired by the commercial release Civilization II by Sid Meier.

Players take the role of tribal leaders in 4000 B.C. who must guide their peoples through the centuries. Over time, new technologies are discovered, which allow the construction of new city buildings and the deployment of new units. Players can wage war on one another or form diplomatic relationships.

The game ends when one civilization has eradicated all others or accomplished the goal of space colonization, or at a given deadline. If more than one civilization remains at the deadline, the player with the highest score wins. Points are awarded for the size of a civilization, its wealth, and cultural and scientific advances.

There’s a lot to like about FreeCiv; similar to it’s more expensive cousin, the designers give you loads of options in order to make your conquest of the world as personalized as possible. Want to have a quick game where rush tactics can net you a victory? You can do it, just make the map the size of my studio apartment. Want to play out your conquest on some kind of weird, donut-shaped planet? You can do it, along with determining the number of starting units, technologies, and much much more. Another option which I liked was the amount of countries you can choose to play as is actually far greater than in Civ 4, so if you feel the need to have the Mongolians fight against the Sudanese or if you decide to reenact that timeless struggle between the French and the Antarticans, you can totally do it. The only negative here is that unlike the rulers in Civ 4 which each have their own personalities and gameplay bonuses, the differences in nations are cosmetic only.

Publisher: The Freeciv project

Developer: The Freeciv developers

Release Date: January 5, 1996

Players: Single-player or Multiplayer