Inspired by the acclaimed Sid Meier's Civilization, Colonization focuses on a single era in history from 1500 to 1800, the discovery, exploration and colonization of the New World. Players control either English, French, Dutch or Spanish colonists in the New World. This New World can be the historically-accurate Americas (North and South) or a randomly-generated world with varying resources and challenges. Overseeing economic, military and political growth, gamers strive to establish independence from the mother country while competing with other colonies for control of the New World.