FreeCol is a free-to-play open-source imitation of Sid Meier's Colonization. First released in 2003, it has undergone over 20 named version upgrades since, as it long ago passed 75,000 lines of code and 53,000 comment lines with 550 Java files.^[1] Throughout 2017 there were new unnamed binary releases for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux about once a week. In 2023 version 1.0.0 - intended to be a copy of the original but with better user interface - was released. Version 1.2 0 arrived in October 2025.

This wiki can accommodate any number of pages about FreeCol: beginners' guide, strategies, units, Founding Fathers, versions, ... . The Freeciv wiki has good models of categories etc, but many of its pages would need " (FreeCol)" added to their names here (or whatever format best matches our naming standards) so as to distinguish from similar categories covering other games.

Versions

See FreeCol versions and www.freecol.org for earlier versions. Note that recent versions may need their "Compatibility" tweaked if played on Windows Vista or Windows 7; see FreeCol and Windows.

2023

• FreeCol 1.0.0 - intended to be "an almost exact Colonization clone"; "the gameplay and the rules will be exactly the same as the original game". Some players may have the impression that the game was already up to there and better, but the developers modestly retained that as a clear goal on their roadmap.^[2] See FreeCol 1.0.0/Divergences from Colonization.
  • One major improvement is the addition of four new (but historic) colonial powers: Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, each with a unique in-game advantage.

Envisaged

• FreeCol 2.0.0 - intended to be "an implementation of our (and our users') image of what Colonization 2 would have been".

Reviews

• Unsolicited comparisons with Civilization IV: Colonization:
  • "Other then that, great game, way better then civ 4\s crappy attempt in my opinion :) Cant wait for FreeCol 2 :D "
  • "I love this game, I tried to play Civilization IV: Colonization and quick got back to freecol."

References

See also

• FreeCol forum on this wiki

External links

• FreeCol at MobyGames
• Home page
• Latest downloadable releases
• Wiki on SourceForge
• Wiki on GitHub
• Forum on SourceForge
• Report a bug - needs SourceForge registration; use the "Add new artifact" link if you reach the bug tracker "Browse" screen
• Documentation User Guide - "... free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License ...". See FreeCol Official User Guide.
• Translatewiki.net page for FreeCol

Colonization Games [edit]
Original version of Sid Meier's Colonization (1994)
Building List of buildings Cheating Civilizations Colony Colonist Difficulty level Education Europe Founding Fathers Gold Goods Market system Independence Foreign intervention Royal Expeditionary Force Sons of Liberty Indians Map Terrain Plow Resources Roads Soundtrack Tax rate Boycott Units Tips FAQ
Remake Civilization IV: Colonization (2008)
Buildings Civilizations Colony Civil disorder Difficulty level Europe Founding Fathers Goods Independence Royal Expeditionary Force Map Terrain Natives Points Professions Resources Leaders Traits Units Promotions Victory
Fan Created version FreeCol (2003-present)
Civilizations

Civilization Series
Game	Expansion packs
Civilization	CivNet (remake)
Civ II	Conflicts in Civilization Fantastic Worlds Test of Time
Civ III	Play the World Conquests
Civ IV	Warlords Beyond the Sword Colonization (total conversion)
Civ V	Gods & Kings Brave New World
Beyond Earth	Rising Tide
Civ VI	Rise and Fall Gathering Storm New Frontier Pass Leader Pass
Civ VII
Official Spinoffs	Sid Meier's Colonization Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Alien Crossfire Civilization Revolution CivWorld Civilization Revolution 2 Sid Meier's Starships Civilization: Eras & Allies
Other Games	Pirates! Railroad Tycoon XCOM (IP) Freeciv Imperialism C-evo C-evo: New Horizons C-evo Distant Horizon Imperialism II: The Age of Exploration Civilization: Call to Power Call to Power II FreeCol Pirates!: Live the Life CivCity: Rome Railroads! NewCol Unciv Humankind Ara: History Untold
Comparisons	Comparison between Civilization games Civilizations Glossary of Civilization terms