Why this exists
The original Civilization, Civilization II and Colonization are foundational works — for strategy gaming, for simulation, for a generation's understanding of how history fits together. But classic PC games age badly in practice: operating systems move on, installers stop working, manuals get lost.
civ.games does two things about that. The wiki preserves the knowledge — every unit, advance, wonder and Founding Father, checked against the original manuals. The arcade preserves the experience — DOSBox compiled to WebAssembly, running the originals at full speed in a browser tab.
How the emulator works
The play page runs js-dos, a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. The emulator itself is open source and entirely legal. Game files are a separate matter: civ.games does not distribute them. You bring your own legally obtained copies — original disks, or purchases from digital storefronts that sell the classics — and the emulator mounts them locally in your browser.
Save states live in your browser's storage. Signing in with Google lets you sync them across devices.
Frequently asked
Is this an official Civilization site?+
No. civ.games is a fan project with no affiliation to Firaxis Games, 2K, or the former MicroProse. Civilization, Colonization and related marks are trademarks of their respective owners.
Where do I get the game files?+
From your own original media, or from digital storefronts that legally sell the classic titles. The emulator accepts a standard .jsdos bundle — instructions are on the play page.
Does it work on mobile?+
The site, wiki and game pages — fully. The emulator runs on mobile browsers too, though these games were designed for a keyboard and mouse; a tablet with a keyboard is the comfortable minimum.
Can I contribute to the wiki?+
That's the plan — contributor accounts with review workflow are on the roadmap. For now, corrections are welcome by hand; sign in and use the feedback option in your account menu.
What do you store about me when I sign in?+
Name, email and your save states. Nothing else, nothing sold, nothing shared. Sign-in exists purely so your games follow you between devices.
Legal
civ.games is an unofficial fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Firaxis Games, 2K, or the former MicroProse. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. No copyrighted game files, artwork or audio are hosted or distributed by this site. If you are a rights holder with a concern, contact us and we will respond promptly.