The game uses a dual-mode mouse system; you may need to right-click twice to deselect an item or unhighlight a building.

Your goal is to grow your population while maintaining high ratings in Culture, Prosperity, Peace, and Empire .

Unlike modern city builders, early Caesar games require strict placement of amenities like schools, bathhouses, and theaters within specific distances of residential areas to allow houses to evolve.

Because the game is "abandonware" (vintage software no longer supported by its original publisher), you have several options for downloading and playing it on modern systems:

For a visual walkthrough of the original Caesar gameplay and mechanics, check out this guide: