Which Rome City Builder is best?

[There is no Spoon]

I stumbled across four different rome city building games just over an hour ago, those being
Caesar IV
Imperium Romanium
Grand Ages Rome
CivCity Rome
So I have to ask, as someone who loves city builders, which one of these four is the best? What are their strengths and weaknesses? The biggest thing I look for in a city builder is Replayability, Customization (you know, not building in a linear sense, allowing experimentation) and Liveliness. The last one in particular is a biggie, how alive is the world I build? Is it hollow? Do citizens, guards, politicians, etc interact with the environment/with other people? Or are they stale, predictable, and/or rare to find? Any feedback would be great, thanks! :D

[stef]

I've only tried caesar from this list, and I love it! started with the first one when it came out and played all the games in the series since (pharaoh etc.). off topic but you might like dawn of discovery if you want more action with the people in your city. I recently bought it but I must say I got bored and finished all the missions just for the sake of completion.

[Sharpe]

The Caesar series is nice....but over all i gotta put my money on grand ages rome.the maps are large and there's just that much more mechanics...Civ City..well there's no way to toggle off immigration sort off.....you'll die a slow unhappy death from that but it's research tree was done right.

[Browntrouser]

There has not been a good Rome city building game since Caesars 3. Everything after it is just kind of meh.

[ChevyAndVW]

i have them all and i would have to say Imperium Romanium. the ui is nice 2

1.Imperium
2. Grand Ages
3. CivCity
4.Caesar IV

theres other 1s too. but they are all good.

[stef]

thanks Chevy! I will definitely try them, starting with Imperium!

[ChevyAndVW]

Np. Glad to help. If u like Imperium, then you should like the rest. Im always in search of games like these. And games such as Stronghold series and Age Of series.

[Sharpe]

historical city builder games are rare nowadays :w;