Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (SMAC) is a turn-based 4X strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by Electronic Arts, released in 1999 for Windows. Set on the planet Chiron, the game follows seven ideological factions formed after a spaceship crash, each vying for dominance through colonization, research, diplomacy, and warfare. It builds on the Civilization II formula with futuristic technology, unit design customization, social engineering, and a reactive alien ecosystem. The game features a fully voiced tech tree with memorable quotes, a detailed manual resembling a science fiction novel, and continued support through patches and developer interaction. Critically acclaimed for its depth and narrative, it is regarded as a classic of the genre.
The Vault · 1999
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
Civ II in space, with a brain the size of Planet.
Alpha CentauriWindows 95/984XStrategy
Screenshots
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Original Hardware
Available on CD-ROM for Windows 95/98. Requires Pentium 133 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 360 MB hard drive space.