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Reaching the next era in such games is a big event. Usually, it means a plethora of new possibilities that will help the player advance past their fellow man and/or AI. There is an immense sense of satisfaction that comes with growing a bastion civilization from the ground up and watching as that civilization evolves into something great and powerful.

Updated on September 22, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: There’s a certain appeal to games that let players go through numerous ages during one play session and watch their game evolve from something simple into a complex web of intricacies that is a joy to behold. Certain games do a great job of telling long-lasting epics through the ages, while others let players manage their development through the times. Regardless of what kind of games appear on this list, the motif of progressing through the sands of time is quite evident and elevates the experience.

15 Wildermyth

Wildermyth is one of the more unique takes on procedural generation in a video game, letting players weave unique and exciting stories in each campaign. Players control heroes in different chapters of a campaign, with each successive outing happening years after the first event.

As a result, heroes age and their children take over as the primary heroes instead, which gives a pretty epic feel to the events of Wildermyth. It genuinely feels like players are crafting an incredible story through the ages as they fight against massive monstrosities and dastardly villains.

14 Europa Universalis 4

Europa Universalis 4 is a grand strategy game made by Paradox Interactive. That statement alone is enough for most veterans of the strategy genre to understand what the game’s all about.

Governing the rise or fall of an empire becomes positively riveting in this game. The systems of Europa Universalis 4 are deep and complex, and new players should expect a steep learning curve early on. However, if they can weather the early storm, then the wealth of gameplay at their fingertips is simply astonishing.

13 The Movies

Unlike most of the other games on this list, The Movies doesn’t goes through the ages in a truly dramatic manner. Instead, it takes a look solely at the movie industry and how it evolved over the ages, making for a rather unique experience that hasn’t been replicated in the simulation genre.

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Players who want to make the wackiest movies around should definitely give The Movies a whirl. There’s really nothing quite like it, and most people would love a modern take on The Movies that could use procedurally generated systems to create something truly remarkable.

12 SimCity Creator DS

The main release of SimCity Creator is a pretty by-the-numbers city creator that doesn’t really go through the ages in any way. However, the same can’t be said for its Nintendo DS counterpart, which is an entirely different can of worms.

The DS version of the game let players start from ancient times before going all the way to the future. While the mechanics might not be all that deep, the novelty of playing such a unique take on a SimCity game is worth the price of admission in itself.

11 Age Of Mythology

The idea of combining the gameplay of Age of Empires with the lore and wonder of mythology was a match made in heaven. The end result, Age of Mythology, is still considered by many to be one of the best strategy games around.

Players worship and fight for several gods across multiple civilizations, governing everything from the manner in which they generate their resources to the units they can bring to a battlefield. While a player’s progress through the ages takes a backseat to the game’s mythological setting, it still serves as a great way to reward a gamer’s efforts.

10 Age Of Empires 2

Real-time Strategy (RTS) games are a prolific and popular genre. They have been a point of much love, especially from those with a competitive spirit. Age Of Empires 2 embodies much of what makes these games great. The key in this game is to manage one’s growth, through the accumulation and defense of one’s land and resources.

Ensuring a steady supply of these things will allow players to dominate over other factions; thus, they can push their civilization into greater and greater ages. Fans of this title hold out high hopes for the recently announced Age Of Empires 4.

9 Civilization 6

The Civilization franchise has made a name for itself by allowing players to grow their own civilizations and pit them against other opponents to see whose will thrive. There is more than one path to victory, especially when mods are involved.

As such, players race through history to reach their chosen faction’s end goal before anyone else reaches theirs. The sixth game in the franchise does this especially well. The different civilizations feel more distinct than ever and can evolve in a number of unique ways.

8 Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

This game advertises itself on the prospect that it wishes to tell the story of humanity from the beginnings of its primate existence. With this in mind, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is ambitious, to say the least. The player explores a number of mysterious vistas, teaching their burgeoning population how to contend with the many threats of the world.

The path to humanity is long and there are a great many important skills to learn along the way. Luckily, once a skill has been learned, players can skip a large amount of time. Thus, future generations will be endowed with such knowledge to help them on their quest to evolve further.

7 The Universim

Though it’s still in early access, The Universim already holds so much fun and potential for those who play it. The player will be given a whole planet to colonize; however, seeing as they will start with just a handful of tribesmen, only a small portion will be needed for much of the early game.

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As a God game, players will have very little direct control over the actions of those beneath them. Influence the people through positive and negative actions, which will either hinder or aid their progress. Soon enough, the night sky will be lit by the exhaust of a rocketship breaking from the planet’s orbit.

6 Empire Earth

Few games are bold enough to allow players to wage war on other people with killer robot mechs — in the same session where the war once was fought with wooden clubs. A game of Empire Earth will span from the ancient era of man, where cavemen gathered sticks and stones, to a futuristic age of lasers and mass bombardment.

Nothing is more satisfying than bulldozing an enemy faction with artillery as they struggle to understand the mere concept of a firearm. Time waits for no one, so it is important to always be ahead.

5 Rise Of Nations

A culmination of the great games that came before it, Rise of Nations takes the foundations of games like Age of Empires and Empire Earth and puts its own unique spin on the genre. Each match depends on a player’s ability to accumulate knowledge and balance economic growth.

Multipliers and bonuses propel factions to new heights. Ancient civilizations can soon develop nuclear arms that devastated entire cities. Not to mention, an interesting border system gives defenders an advantage, so long as they can maintain their influential pressure.

4 Tropico 6

Tropico is unique in the world of city builders, in that it has a large focus on the political side. There are factions that must be appeased to ensure the future prosperity of Tropico and its people.

There are a great many ways the island can be ruled, from the democratic to the outright tyrannical; however, all is done with the sole purpose of keeping the player in power. The island will start as a young colony beholden to its imperial overlords, but with some effort, the player can craft a thriving independent paradise.

3 Crusader Kings 3

A limited span of time is covered over the course of a game of Crusader Kings 3. However, what players can accomplish in that amount of time can be staggering. The game is intimidating, as players have to contend with many menus, systems, and AI that act in a number of unpredictable ways.

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The greatest threat to one’s rule is uncertainty. If players wish to ensure the prosperity of their legacy, they will need to push the odds in their favor. The methods vary from the strengths and weaknesses of whoever the player finds themself in control of. Yet, said methods can allow a humble servant to become an emperor.

2 Humankind

Humankind is a strong contender in the field of games that have people growing civilizations from the beginning and turning them into monoliths of power. This title tasks people with performing this feat, but puts a strong emphasis on utilizing the many cultures that have popped up over the long history of humanity.

As players progress into each age, they can change their culture to better reflect what they wish to do from that point forward. Claiming territory and skillful diplomacy become vital assets on the long climb to the top.

1 Spore

Spore will forever be remembered as the wild monster design game whose potential was far greater than its developers could ever reach. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it still is a true one-of-a-kind experience. Players create their own unique creature and must evolve it to better face the world.

Eventually, these creatures move from microbial organisms into a space-faring empire, dead set on reaching the center of the galaxy. Of course, the most fun that can be had lies in the absolutely ridiculous creature designer, which allows players to make sensible creations or Lovecraftian Pokemon.

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