Every game in Sid Meier’s Civilization series takes players through centuries and millennia of human history in epic turn-based strategy. With each new release, critics and fans rank their favorite Civ games, but what about ranking Civilization’s opening cinematics?
Every Civ game features an opening cinematic, showcasing montages of humanity through the ages. Or maybe the creation of Earth; or just a single building. But like, a really fancy building.
We’ve reviewed all the opening cutscenes from each of the seven mainline Civilization games (yes, there are many spinoffs and expansions, but we have to draw the line somewhere!).
Where does Civ 7’s opening cinematic rank? Do the old ones still old up? Read on for our Civilization opening cinematic rankings!
7. Sid Meier’s Civilization 2 (1996)
The central floating “thing” in Civilization 2’s opener clearly evokes the evolving Earth from Civ 1. But whereas that was a grandiose tale of the Earth’s beginning, Civ 2 is a bizarre montage of mostly random floating objects, like a pocket watch, or an eyeball. The peppy pan flute music is also weird, like something from a 70s crime drama. Civ 2 was certainly a great game back in the day, but it’s a real head-scratcher of an opening cinematic.
6. Sid Meier’s Civilization 3 (2001)
Civ 3’s opener is entirely focused on a single gigantic structure — a wonder in progress. The camera slowly pans around and ascends the building for a solid minute. And that’s about it. The early 3D graphics are a little rough, and the hideous yellow color scheme makes it hard to see any detail. At least the music is an improvement over Civ 1 and 2.
5. Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991)
Pixelated, tinny, and voice-less, the opening cinematic (if it can be called that) for the original Sid Meier’s Civilization was nonetheless captivating. Opening credits lead to our solar system, where we witness the birth of our planet, then to life, dinosaurs, and mankind. None of this is technically relevant to a game of Civilization, except as a precursor to humanity forming tribes and towns, setting off the Ancient era where Civ games begin. The opening was iconic enough to warrant a remake in Civilization 4, featuring legendary actor Leonard Nimoy.
4. Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 (2025)
Titled “Rediscover Hope,” Civ 7’s opener begins with a farmer discovering an ancient sword while plowing his fields. We watch as the sword continues through the ages, in warfare, entertainment, or simply traded away. It’s a framing device we’ve seen before in Civ 6, but using an item rather than a person isn’t as effective. Despite Gwendoline Christie’s excellent narration and Christopher Tin’s music, the cinematic feels less a bit less inspiring and impactful than previous efforts.
3. Sid Meier’s Civilization 4 (2005)
Christopher Tin’s Grammy award-winning song “Baba Yetu” remains one of the greatest gifts to gaming. Unfortunately, the visuals aren’t nearly as compelling. Dated 3D Roman-era armies clash, followed by the crowning of an emperor. It depicts only one small sliver of what a Civ game offers. Plus, the full song isn’t actually played during the opening scene (though staying on the main menu is a treat!). These elements keep Civ 4 from being the GOAT of gaming intros.
2. Sid Meier’s Civilization 5 (2010)
As Civ 5 opens, an old man dreams of a future for his people, cleverly teasing the stories and gameplay of a Civ game. That old man is perfectly voiced by William Morgan Sheppard, often cited as the best of the Civilization narrators (a crowded field!). It’s a slower-paced opener that focuses on only a few effective sequences: journeying to new lands, building wonders and cities, and medieval warfare. It’s a worthy cinematic of the Civilization series, though the music isn’t quite as stirring.
1. Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 (2016)
Sean Bean’s voice is a little too recognizable these days, but Christopher Tin’s return to the soundtrack for Civilization 6 is nothing short of amazing. The story follows the same father throughout iconic moments of human history. The Colossus of Rhodes. The Silk Roads. Winged Hussars. In the end we transition to his daughter on a spaceship, culminating in the end game of Civilization’s science victory. It humanizes human history in all the right ways, backed by wonderful music and voice acting.
There you have it — Civilization 7 is the weakest opening cinematic we’ve had in two decades! Disagree? Let us know on our social media, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
