Civilization is a game that literally spans generations, with the original entry launching in 1991. I was too young to enjoy developer Sid Meier's initial go — and indeed, a couple more after that were overshadowed by my love of Age of Empires 2 and Diablo 2 — with the series really grabbing my attention around 2009 when Civilization V was announced.
I poured many hours into Civ 5, and I still consider it the best entry in the series. I know I'm not alone in that opinion. Civilization VI launched in 2016 to a generally positive reception, though for fans of the older games, it seemed like a big departure. Cartoonish graphics, a more disjointed feel for all of the new mechanics, and some serious clutter (especially nearing the end-game turns). Although I gave Civ 6 more than its fair share of playtime, Civ 5 was always the game I wanted to be playing instead.
