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The best of Firaxis Games

The 7 best games from Firaxis Games, ranked from 3,323 critic and player ratings.

The best game from Firaxis Games is Sid Meier's Civilization IV, with a critic score of 95/100. Updated November 2026.

  • Ranked releases span 2004 to 2016.
  • Average critic score across the 7 ranked games: 87/100.
  • 3,323 critic and player ratings behind this ranking.
  • About 40 hours to finish one of them on average (main story).

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
  • 7 games are listed on this page, carrying 3,323 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 7

Played them? Give your tier with the + next to each game. No account needed to try — create one to keep your tiers.

01 Sid Meier's Civilization IV Sid Meier's Civilization IV 2005 · 307 ratings · finished by 11% Sid Meier and Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive game to new heights by adding new ways to play and win, new tools to manage and expand your civilization, all-new easy to use mod capabilities and intense multiplayer modes and options 95 /100
02 XCOM: Enemy Unknown XCOM: Enemy Unknown 2012 · 560 ratings XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics. The original XCOM is widely regarded as one of the best games ever made and has now been re-imagined by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on that legacy with an entirely new invasion story, enemies and technologies to fight aliens and defend Earth. You will control the fate of the human race through researching alien technologies, creating and managing a fully operational base, planning combat missions and controlling soldier movement in battle. 88 /100
03 Sid Meier’s Civilization VI S Sid Meier’s Civilization VI 2016 · 634 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 11% Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known. 87 /100
04 Sid Meier's Civilization V S Sid Meier's Civilization V 2010 · 1,171 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 14% · 40 h to beat Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game where the player leads a civilization from the stone-age all the way to future tech, there is more than one way to win, achieving one of a number of different victory conditions through research, exploration, diplomacy, expansion, economic development, government and military conquest. You will face other civilizations, either online as other people or played by the computer, civilization 5 features a advanced diplomacy system when dealing with computer controlled civs or computer controlled city-states. 87 /100
05 XCOM 2 XCOM 2 2016 · 423 ratings · finished by 11% XCOM 2 is the sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year. Earth has changed and is now under alien rule. Facing impossible odds you must rebuild XCOM, and ignite a global resistance to reclaim our world and save humanity. 85 /100
06 Sid Meier's Pirates! Sid Meier's Pirates! 2004 · 121 ratings · finished by 10% Based on Sid Meier's original masterpiece, Pirates!, Sid Meier's Pirates! has you facing countless dogged enemies, wooing fair maidens and raising the Jolly Roger on the high seas in pursuit of riches. Discover what it takes to become one of the most famous pirates in history! Firaxis' long-awaited Sid Meier's Pirates! carries on with the great game play tradition and design simplicity of the award-winning original while adding more challenging and exciting battle options, eye-popping 3D graphics, fantastic new audio, and loads of new game play features! 83 /100
07 Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth 2014 · 107 ratings · finished by 9% Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is a new science-fiction-themed entry into the award-winning Civilization series. Set in the future, global events have destabilized the world leading to a collapse of modern society, a new world order and an uncertain future for humanity. As the human race struggles to recover, the re-developed nations focus their resources on deep space travel to chart a new beginning for mankind. As part of an expedition sent to find a home beyond Earth, you will write the next chapter for humanity as you lead your people into a new frontier and create a new civilization in space. Explore and colonize an alien planet, research new technologies, amass mighty armies, build incredible Wonders and shape the face of your new world. As you embark on your journey you must make critical decisions. From your choice of sponsor and the make-up of your colony, to the ultimate path you choose for your civilization, every decision opens up new possibilities. 82 /100
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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game from Firaxis Games?

Sid Meier's Civilization IV currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 307 ratings. Ranking updated November 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.