Civilization IV took what was good about the first three games and made everything much more accessible to newcomers. If you feel like going back to the roots of what paved the way to modern titles, Civ 4 is definitely a good place to start. And while you’re at it, you might want to check out some of these mods. They’re sure to help make your Civ 4 experience a bit more interesting.
15. Ethnically Diverse Units
Check Out This Mod As this title suggests, Ethnical Diverse Units aims to add some diversity to unit appearances in Civ 4, to better match the factions they represent. As the modder himself explains, he found it odd that there was only one unit in the Malian civilization that appeared to be of African descent. Install this bad boy and you’ll get tons of units, but all of them just introduce cosmetic changes to add variety to the current unit pool. You’ll find African Horsemen, Indian Archers, and Greek Swordsmen among the new unit models that come with this mod.
14. Varietas Delectat
Check Out This Mod Varietas Delectat takes inspiration from other graphical mods to give units a major visual upgrade in Civ 4. But this mod takes it even further, adding tons of new civilization-specific units to better suit each of the playable factions in the game. You’ll now have additions like Spanish medieval units, Japanese samurai, Russian infantry, and even fighter jets, among many others.
13. Dacubz145’s Units
Check Out This Mod If you’re looking for more than cosmetic unit changes for Civ 4, you might want to check out Dacubz145’s extensive list of unit mods for the game. The list has now come to 84 completely new units, where you’ll find anything from police cars and hummers, to tanks and airplanes. Some of the models are even country-specific and represent vehicles used across different historical wars. So if you’re looking for some WWII tanks or ships to play around with, you’re going to love this one.
12. Avatar: The Last Airbender World Map
Check Out This Mod Now I’d say one of the more creative entries on this list is this custom map from NamesAreUseless. The map is a recreation of the popular Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. As in the show, you’ll be able to play as one of four factions: Air Nomads, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, or Water Tribes. Each faction has been assigned a leader taken from the series as well. If you’re a fan of the show you should definitely give this a try. It’s quite a crossover!
11. CIV Gold!
Check Out This Mod CIV Gold! is one of the largest mods out there. It gives tons of new content to explore, mostly in the form of new civilizations to play as. The mod adds at least 30 new civilizations and 24 new leaderheads to the mix. It actually combines some of the most popular civilization mods together, but improves on things a bit to make everything fit together well. Some of the new civilizations you’ll have access to include Belgium, Serbia, and the Philippines. You’ll even have some of the more well-known leaders like Kim Jong Il, Alexander the Great, Philip II, and President Reagan. Imagine Reagan in Civ 4, what a time to be alive.
10. Dune Wars
Check Out This Mod While there are tons of smaller mods you can end up spending hours playing with, there are also a number of options when it comes to overhauls for Civ4. If you’re looking for a completely new experience of the game, or want to play specific scenarios, you might want to take a look at mods like this one. Dune Wars is actually based on the popular science-fiction novel Dune, which sees you fighting for control of the planet of the same name. The mod features nine playable factions, each with unique abilities, and of course the famous sandworms you’ll have to battle across the desert.
9. Fallout: Tame The Wastes
Check Out This Mod Fallout: Tame The Wastes brings another popular video game universe into Civ 4. That’s right, I’m talking about the post-apocalyptic wastelands of the Fallout series. Tame The Wastes features 10 playable factions from the Fallout games, including The New Reno Crime Families, The New Vegas Strip, and The Enclave. Pretty much everything has been touched up here to give you a complete Fallout experience. The mod also adds a new UI, economic system, tech trees, and units. So this should keep you busy for quite a while.
8. Caveman2Cosmos
Check Out This Mod Caveman2Cosmos is another huge mod, which actually combines the work of over 100 modders to create one of the most expansive overhauls for the game. Really, you’ll wanna check this out. The title Caveman2Cosmos actually comes from the fact that it covers everything from discovering fire in the Prehistoric Ages, to successfully launching rockets into outer space during the Galactic Era. The mod adds in loads of new content, from new units to tech trees and even terrain. Absolutely a must-try mod in my book.
7. Star Trek
Check Out This Mod Let’s bring another sci-fi universe to life, this time in the form of Star Trek. The Star Trek mod will see you playing as one of 25 civilizations from the show, each led by some of your favorite characters from the series. Technologies have also been altered along with other gameplay mechanics to match the Star Trek theme. The mod even features scenarios like Deep Space Nine and Xindi Attack, letting you play out some of the most significant events from the series. Stark Trek fans, rejoice!
6. Rhye’s and Fall of Civilization
Check Out This Mod Rhye’s and Fall of Civilization is one of the most popular overhaul mods for CIv 4, and gives you an interesting premise right off the bat. The team explains that the mod aims to transform your game into an “Earth Simulator”. Instead of adding tons of new units and features, Rhye’s and Fall focuses on building an exciting alternate reality through random event triggers throughout the campaign. The mod also features an adaptive AI, a plague mechanic, and unique win conditions for each civilization.
5. Fall From Heaven II
Check Out This Mod Fall from Heaven is one other popular Civilization IV mod, this time putting a dark fantasy twist on the otherwise realism-based game. The setting places you just towards the end of the age of ice, and those left behind from the once-great empires are struggling to survive & rebuild in a new world. The mod features magic (of course that’s expected in a fantasy world) where different units are able to cast spells in battle. There are also a couple of interesting changes to gameplay, including a buff given to veteran units, unit upgrading, and unique heroes.
4. Neoteric World
Check Out This Mod Neoteric World takes a completely different approach to modding, trying to stay within the realism and historical accuracy as much as possible. This mod can also be defined by simplicity rather than overwhelming players with tons of new units and mechanics, only focusing on two specific eras of the game. Neoteric World expands on both the modern and future eras of the game, where the expanded future era is even optional to play. Tech trees have been reworked for both eras, as well as unit upgrade paths – which allow you to pretty much upgrade WWI tanks all the way up to modern ones. It also includes 14 new civilizations and over 50 new events to make your next playthrough all the more exciting.
3. Planetfall
Check Out This Mod If you’re looking for an experience somewhere between realism and fantasy, Planetfall might be the mod for you. We’re taken much farther into the future, as a group of colonists are about to leave Earth to find a home elsewhere. The year is 2060 and Earth is no longer habitable, leaving them no choice but to explore other options. Planetfall takes inspiration directly from Sid Meier’s space-themed game Alpha Centauri, aiming to bring the space exploration theme to CivI4. Many consider it to be the sequel to SMAC that we never got, so this one is definitely worth checking out.
2. Realism: Invictus
Check Out This Mod If you enjoy things that are more along the lines of historical accuracy, Realism: Invictus is the answer you’re looking for. The mod is a community effort that combines different mods to create the most realistic Civ 4 experience possible. The mod makes many changes here and there, so that things in-game just make more sense, touching on almost everything from buildings to units. Included are over 140 new techs across all eras, 160 new leaders, and at least 3000 new units – all based on careful research and testing to make sure balance is maintained. Seriously, this mod is absolutely massive. You’ll be busy for weeks.
1. Earth 2010
Check Out This Mod Probably one of the most interesting concepts I’ve come across in modding, Earth 2010 actually aims at letting you play through a simulation of a more current state of the world, rather than events of the past. Though the mod is set a little over 10 years ago, it’s still an interesting concept to be able to play a game of Civ 4 with modern tech and leaders. The mod features 35 playable factions, including all G20 members. Oh, and nuclear power is also a thing here. So you’re probably going to be much more careful when it comes to diplomatic relations. I hope.
