Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri

What it is

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is a turn-based strategy game set around humanity's attempt to colonize space. Firaxis Games developed it, and the game originally dates to 1999. The Planetary Pack includes the original Alpha Centauri and its Alien Crossfire expansion. Players choose among seven factions, each with its own agenda and leader goal, and try to use their strengths while exploiting opponents' weaknesses. The game also lets players design units, balancing speed, power, and toughness for tactical needs. Its setting centers on a crew of scientists and security strategists embarking on a mission that will reshape the world. The listed genres include 4X strategy and hard science fiction. Steam lists single-player, multiplayer, PvP, LAN PvP, Steam Cloud, and Family Sharing. Listed platforms include Linux, Windows, macOS, and Classic Mac OS, while the Steam platform listing specifies Windows.

What players like, and what they don't

Who it suits

It suits strategy players interested in faction-based competition, unit design, and a science-fiction colonization setting.

Alpha Centauri brings faction strategy and customizable units to a science-fiction setting. The Planetary Pack includes the Alien Crossfire expansion alongside the original game.