150 MB
Verified working 15 hours ago
Verified working 15 hours ago
Civilization III rebuilt for modern modders and platforms.
Last updated
OpenCiv3 is a free strategy game released under Open Source (MIT). It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, needs about 150 MB of disk space, and requires no account, payment or trial. On a computer, the fastest route is the PlayBound Launcher. On a phone or tablet, use the official store or site instead.
Choose how to install
Install with PlayBound or download from the official source without the launcher.
Install OpenCiv3 with the PlayBound launcher. The Windows zip from the C7-Game/OpenCiv3 GitHub releases runs standalone with placeholder art.
Windows
Launch OpenCiv3 and confirm it windowed. If you own Civilization III Complete, keep that install in a normal Steam or GOG folder so OpenCiv3 can detect original graphics.
This is an early remake. Read the GitHub readme for known gaps before judging it as a finished Civ III replacement.
Minimum
64-bit OS · dual-core CPU · 4 GB RAM · OpenGL 3.3 · ~200 MB (standalone)
Recommended
Civilization III Complete for original art · quad-core CPU · 8 GB RAM · modern GPU
No. OpenCiv3 runs standalone with placeholder art. A legal Civilization III Complete install is optional and unlocks original graphics when the remake finds it.
No. It is an actively developed remake. Core loops exist; presentation, completeness, and polish are still behind Civilization III itself.
The engine is an open-source remake. Original Civ III art is still Firaxis/2K property — only use it if you own a legal copy. Placeholder art needs no extra purchase.
Freeciv is a mature Civilization-inspired 4X with its own rulesets. OpenCiv3 specifically targets Civilization III’s design and assets. They scratch adjacent itches, not the same one.
Official Windows zips are published on the C7-Game/OpenCiv3 GitHub releases page. PlayBound installs that project, not a third-party fork.
Yes. OpenCiv3 has multiplayer. You can host a game on your own PC. PlayBound Connect handles the setup: start a party with your friends, pick how you want to play, and everyone launches into the same game from the PlayBound launcher. It also supports LAN play. There is no subscription and no paid multiplayer tier.