Civilization: 25 years, 33M copies sold, 1B hours played, and 66 versions
My favorite thing about Civ is that its creator has kept control over it, and continues to evolve it. We&#x27;ll probably be enjoying a new Civ in 2026. The charm is that it&#x27;s the same game in many respects — parts evolve, but the core remains.<p>This seems unusual; I can point to several popular 90&#x27;s games that peaked there and never recovered (Roller Coaster Tycoon, Age of Empires II, and arguably SimCity 4 if you include the early naughts). I wonder why; as a player, the Civ model seems preferable (you always have modern versions and new, but not heretical, variety).