# Sid Meier's Colonization — user reviews > 262 indexed App Store user reviews of Sid Meier's Colonization by Atari, rated 2.30/5 from 209 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sid-meiers-colonization/id1022704417/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sid-meiers-colonization/id1022704417.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 45 · 4★ 21 · 3★ 6 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 128 ## What do users think of Sid Meier's Colonization? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Exactly like the original game - 🚀 Classic gameplay - 💡 Nostalgia factor - 🚀 Engaging and addictive **Cons** - 🐛 Unresponsive and clunky controls - 🐛 Keyboard overlay covers too much of the screen - 🐛 Difficulty loading/unloading cargo - 🐛 Unable to move diagonally - 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions **Commonly reported bugs** - Game crashes on launch - Cursor/touch input issues - Performance problems and slowdowns **Most requested features** - Add support for Bluetooth keyboard and mouse - Optimize touch controls for mobile - Implement drag-and-drop functionality - Provide a tutorial or instructions on how to use the controls ## Newest reviews (15 of 262) ### 4/5 — One of the most nice strategy game ported on ios platform *2026-07-03, version 2.4* Thanks to offer us this old jewel. This 1995’s game just need some graphic polish with new technologies. But the core is the same and we love it. When are you able to integrate local network game between 2 or 3 apple devices. Maybe some mouse porting need some adjustments. When you need 3 fingers for example to choose quantities of goods you want to migrate… Thanks it s like the original one the best! ### 4/5 — Ignore negative reviews *2025-07-22, version 2.4* I’ve been looking for this game for so long, I can’t believe I just found it. The click and drag functions are easily replaced by alternating between the inbuilt keyboard mode and the manual moving of the cursor on screen. Same music, same graphics, exactly the same game. Been playing it and loving it all over again. SO glad I finally found it! ### 3/5 — Та самая Колонизация, но… *2025-02-07* управление ужасное, выматывает. ### 1/5 — Je me suis fait avoir *2025-01-20* Le jeu n’est pas jouable, difficile a expliquer mais vos doigts doivent déplacer la souris très mauvaise réactivité au passage) pour cliquer il faut faire des appuis longs. 3 euros par que je suis un fan de la 1er heure de ce jeux mais ne faites pas comme moi pour satisfaire votre curiosité ^^ ### 2/5 — 操作性のひどさはやばいです *2024-11-23* が、貴重なゲームをアプリとしてもらったことで、とりあえず⭐︎2つ。 わざわざBluetoothでマウスとキーボードを買い、iPhoneと接続したら、格段に操作性があがり、快適になりました。 ゲームのコンテンツは、やはり最高です。 ### 1/5 — not worth the time and effort *2024-11-14, version 2.4* As a PC game this was a no Brainer. However on the iPad it needs a full update. The UI is cumbersome at best; if you persevere with the game play, as you get deep into the game the BUGs start to appear. Proving to Bea very frustrating game that is in urgent need of HELP. Find an alternative game or use your PC or steam. ### 2/5 — Unplayable UI, on an excellent old school game. *2024-10-13, version 2.4* The game is just as I remember it from the early 90s. The control interface for iPad is terrible. I feel I have wasted money on an unplayable game, because of the good memories. . If there is an updated version released in the future, with a better UI, I would consider buying again. ### 1/5 — The game does not work! *2024-10-05* I can’t open it properly on my MacBook Pro 16 - it keeps on crashing. I want money back. ### 1/5 — Do not buy. Waste of money. *2024-08-03, version 2.4* I sold have listened to the reviews. If I could give it 0 stars I would. The mouse navigation with the touch is absolutely awful and the keyboard takes up most the screen. It’s unplayable and I can’t get a refund ### 2/5 — Schön ist anders *2024-07-22* Leider muss ich mich meinen Vorkommentatoren anschließen. Die Steuerung ist grausig. Mit den richtigen Buchstabenbefehlen geht es aber. Nur Speichern und Laden bekomme ich nicht hin. Wenn mir hier einer einen Tipp geben kann, wäre ich dankbar. Gerne hier als Rezession oder in der Facebook Fangruppe. ### 1/5 — Unusable on iPhone *2024-07-10, version 2.4* The controls are completely impossible to use on my iPhone. I can’t navigate or basically do anything at all without great difficulty. It makes me feel sick to try. I’m very disappointed. ### 1/5 — CANT PLAY THIS GAME *2024-06-08, version 2.4* I absolutely love this game but the gameplay interface makes impossible to play. ### 4/5 — Takes a bit to get the hang of it. *2024-05-13, version 2.4* It is definitely a challenge to navigate the controls, but I’ve been playing this app version for quite a while now and the game is the same as my dos version, maybe a bit better. The biggest thing I wish it had was the map editor that was included in the dos version. I would like to create my own unique maps like I could on the computer, but on my iPad instead. Other than that if you are looking for the original gameplay and pixalized fun I enjoyed as a youngster, then this is the game you’ve been looking for. ### 1/5 — Terrible user interface *2024-05-03, version 2.4* You would expect for $4, that the company would at least update the user interface to accommodate touch screen. Nope, everything is like the original computer game with a mouse and keyboard. Horrible experience trying to build a settlement. You need to expand the keyboard, then minimize, then move the mouse cursor (with difficulty), and then hold down your thumb near bottom of screen (which only Works sometimes), and so on. Not easy to play. Sad, because the game is fantastic, but playing on a phone/iPad with the original method of gameplay/user interface is horrible. I want my money back after 2 minutes of playing! ### 4/5 — Awesome game but needs updates *2024-03-31, version 2.4* Game is great however you can’t sell boycotted goods in Europe like you could in the normal game. Would love more options to move horizontally etc but can live with it for now ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Won’t launch *2026-06-12, version 2.4* I love this game from my back in my childhood. Can’t believe I spent money on it now though as it won’t launch. ### 1/5 — Controls WAY too clunky - Don’t Buy *2026-03-07, version 2.4* I love this game, but this version is unplayable. You have to literally drag the cursor around the screen to play. ### 1/5 — Not worth the purchase on a Mac *2026-03-03, version 2.4* The keyboard takes over the screen, you have to keep hiding it to see what it says and the finger and mouse alignment is shocking. I loved this game and played for hours years ago. I was thrilled to see it on the App Store however, I cannot play this on the iPad. Gutted. ### 1/5 — Listen to the others' reviews *2025-10-15, version 2.4* Navigation and controls are unbearable. Starts with you having to touch/point the arrow. Then keypad to navigate. Then basically you're stuck trying to assign a colonist because it's unclear how to exit the screen. Played for about 5 mins and have requested a refund. ### 1/5 — Not good *2025-09-03, version 2.4* Just terrible , the game controls are unusable. Completely takes any fun out of the game ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-06-15, version 2.4* Crashes when open waste of money ### 1/5 — Do not recommend *2025-06-03, version 2.4* It’s honestly kind of amazing how poorly this port is done. I read the reviews and thought, “hmmm, I’m playing with a mouse and keyboard connected to my iPad - surely these complaints I’m reading won’t apply.” Wrong. Completely wrong. In order to use a keyboard, you need to use the built-in virtual keyboard. It does not recognize one connected to the iPad. And mouse? Nope, you have to use a bizarre touch interface to move the mouse. Is this playable? Probably. Would it be fun? No. ### 1/5 — Unplayable *2025-04-28, version 2.4* Such a disappointment. The game is unplayable in its current state ### 1/5 — Terrible Port *2025-03-06, version 2.4* I was excited to try the game but no effort has been put into porting the game. The game relies on you dragging a buggy mouse cursor across the screen to click on things and pulling up a fake keyboard to perform certain actions. There are no native touch features such as moving around the map with your fingers. I would not recommend at all. ### 1/5 — Controls *2025-01-31, version 2.4* I love this game. But, the controls make it impossible to play. It’s unfortunate ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Old and wonky but worth it *2026-08-18, version 2.4* If you want a great depth for low battery usage for hours of gameplay… look no further. Gonna have to figure out the “Hot Keys” then youre good. ### 5/5 — Good game *2025-04-10, version 2.4* Just like the game on Amiga. Thank you so much for creating the copy for iPhone ### 5/5 — Classic real adventure no extra charges… *2025-02-01, version 2.4* Having played and absolutely loved this real adventure game from the 90’s I can tell you this. Fun and free of all those extra charges once you buy it once it’s worth every penny… Having actually called in sick to work just to play and finish colonization back in the early 90’s true story it’s that fun… ### 5/5 — Same as the original - except you don’t get a mouse and keyboard *2024-10-12, version 2.4* Check online for the hot-key functions. Like: Using +/- to load/unload specific cargo. Pressing shift will then allow you to select a specific amount of that cargo also. It’s a bit clunky but it’s such a classic game, and nothing at all was changed. Don’t think it’s even available anymore but I’m still allowed to play it and clearly doesn’t need updates. ### 5/5 — Engaging. *2024-06-08, version 2.4* Very engaging game. It’s a little tricky to figure out the controls, but really, if you aren’t smart enough to figure that out you aren’t smart enough to play the game. Does not recognize wireless keyboards. Drop down touch keyboard requires you to understand numlock. And lastly no drag and drop. It isn’t touch screen you have to remember the cursor and if you have fat hands like me you have to spend the time to click, open the keyboard, make your choice and then close the keyboard. Other than that. Super playable and enjoyable. ### 5/5 — Amazing Port of the Original *2024-03-18, version 2.4* So I’ve put probably 200 hours into this game and I can say that almost all of the complaints about the controls and interface will be resolved with time and practice. if you use both of your thumbs and learn to hold one thumb on the screen to select something and then use the other thumb to drag, many of the issues go away. Additionally, learning how to use the keyboard is essential. The spacebar input tells a unit to pass for the turn. The F1 input opens the civilopedia on the selected tile. You can switch to tile select by using the view menu -> view pieces. I often use the keyboard arrow inputs to move units or navigate menus. The game plays identically to the original as far as I can tell. I played the original a lot in the 90’s. Needless to say I love the game. There is so much strategy to learn as you play. Lately I have discovered how much trading with the natives adds to the game. There are still some issues: 1. I’ve never figured out how to split resources. In the original a right click would allow me to split, say 90 tobacco, into two quantities to move a part onto a ship or wagon. In this version I haven’t figured out how to do this. 2. You often accidentally click when you want to just move the cursor. With practice this happens less often but it is frustrating. 3. I believe this bug is probably leftover from the original, but sometimes pieces don’t use the optimal path to move to a tile you tell them to go to. Sometimes they get so confused they just go back and forth between two tiles and waste all their movement points, even when a path exists! It’s pretty rare but it seems to happen more often around non-player units. ### 5/5 — I’m all about it!!! *2022-12-26, version 2.4* This game is one of my favorites from back in the day. I see all the negative reviews and I’m my opinion they just don’t want to embrace the keyboard. When I played the original it was all about using the keyboard, mice were new at the time. It would be nice to be able to increase the transparency of the keyboard though. Everything else is perfect. ### 5/5 — So good *2022-08-23, version 2.4* This is one of my favourite games, it’s great having it on the iPhone. Yes the controls aren’t perfect without a mouse but it works well once you get used to it. ### 5/5 — Update iOS and reboot and the app will work! *2022-06-04, version 2.4* Update iOS and reboot and the app will work! ### 5/5 — Годнота *2021-02-05* Не слушайте, тех кто недоволен, просто не разобрались в игре. Я фанат данных игр. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-11.*