The Settlers IV – How to Play It Today and Whether It Is Worth It
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Quick verdict
- Recommended version
- The Settlers IV: History Edition via Ubisoft Connect
- Best low-friction option
- The Settlers IV: History Edition via Ubisoft Connect
- Best purist option
- The Settlers 4: Gold Edition on GOG
- Technical friction
- Moderate
- Gameplay friction
- Moderate
- Beginner-friendly
- Mostly
- Multiplayer
- Version-dependent; do not buy primarily for online play.
How to play it today
The best way for most people to play The Settlers IV today is The Settlers IV: History Edition on PC through Ubisoft Connect. It is the current official modernized version, and it is the easiest recommendation if your priority is simply buying the game legally and getting into it on a modern Windows PC.
There is also a legitimate DRM-free alternative: The Settlers 4: Gold Edition on GOG. That version is important because it is offline-friendly and includes the major extra content associated with the old PC release, including The Trojans and the Elixir of Power, Mission CD content, and the random map generator. It is the better pick if you strongly prefer DRM-free ownership or do not want a launcher-based Ubisoft library.
For most players, though, GOG Gold is the secondary recommendation rather than the default. It is not the same as the History Edition, and it carries more of the legacy-PC caveat that often comes with older strategy games. It is a good legal option, but not the one to choose if your main goal is the least ambiguous modern setup.
The original disc release is not the practical starting point anymore. It may matter to collectors or people maintaining old PCs, but a normal modern player should start with one of the current digital versions instead.
Where you can play it today
The Settlers IV: History Edition
YesRemake or remaster
PC via Ubisoft Connect
Current official modernized release with convenience and compatibility-focused improvements.
Requires a Ubisoft account and Ubisoft Connect.
Best for: Most modern players who want the clearest legal route.
The Settlers History Collection
YesCompilation
PC via Ubisoft Connect
Includes multiple earlier Settlers games in modernized versions.
More than most readers need if they only want The Settlers IV.
Best for: Players who want to sample the broader series.
The Settlers 4: Gold Edition
SelectivelyOfficial release
PC via GOG
DRM-free release with the main expansion content and offline-friendly ownership.
Not the modernized History Edition, and online multiplayer is not the reason to choose it.
Best for: Purists, DRM-free buyers, and offline-first players.
Original disc release
NoOriginal hardware
PC retail disc
Closest to the original 2001 release experience.
Not the practical mainstream route when current digital options exist.
Best for: Collectors and legacy-PC enthusiasts.
Why this is the recommended version
The History Edition wins for most readers because it is the cleanest modern answer. It exists specifically as the official modernized route, while the old retail release and older digital package require more tolerance for dated-PC uncertainty.
The main compromise is Ubisoft Connect. If you dislike account requirements and launcher libraries, that is a real downside. For many players, it will be an acceptable tradeoff because it reduces the version-choice problem: buy the History Edition, install it through the current Ubisoft ecosystem, and play the version that is positioned as the modern release.
GOG Gold has a different appeal. It is the purist and ownership-friendly option. It is especially attractive if you want a DRM-free copy, expect to play offline, or care about the old Gold Edition package more than modernized convenience. The downside is that it is not the low-friction recommendation in the same way. GOG’s version is a valid legal route, but it is best for players who already know why DRM-free matters to them.
The History Collection is worth considering only if you want more than The Settlers IV. It can make sense for a player who wants to explore the series, but it is overkill if you are here for one game.
Play Today Framework
What to know before starting
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Pacing
- Slow and systems-driven
- Do you need a guide?
- A short core-mechanics primer helps more than a full walkthrough.
- Good starting point?
- Yes, if the player wants classic logistics-heavy strategy and accepts dated onboarding.
Expect a settlement economy first and a combat game second. The early challenge is learning how buildings, carriers, resources, animals, territory, and production chains fit together. Do not start if you mainly want fast RTS battles or modern tutorialization.
Is it still worth playing?
Yes, with caveats. The Settlers IV is still worth playing if you want a slower, systems-first strategy game where the satisfaction comes from watching a settlement economy come alive. Its best moments are not dramatic set pieces. They are the quiet moments when your roads, workers, buildings, resources, and expansion finally start operating as one machine.
It is less easy to recommend to casual retro-curious players who just want to sample a famous old strategy game. The pacing is deliberate, the onboarding is dated, and the feedback is not as immediate as in newer city-builders or RTS games. If you bounce off games that make you diagnose supply chains, The Settlers IV may feel more like work than charm.
It is also not the best choice if you mainly want multiplayer certainty, modern controls, or a frictionless console-style experience. This is a PC-first, old-school strategy game, and even the better modern route does not turn it into a contemporary design.
For the right player, though, it still has a clear reason to exist. It offers a style of logistics-heavy settlement building that is more methodical than many modern strategy games. Play it for that, not for nostalgia alone.
FAQ
Should I play The Settlers IV: History Edition or GOG Gold?
Most players should choose The Settlers IV: History Edition. Choose GOG Gold if DRM-free ownership and offline access matter more to you than the convenience of the modernized Ubisoft release.
Is The Settlers IV on Steam?
Do not assume so. Related Settlers games may appear on Steam, but this specific game should not be treated as a normal Steam purchase unless your local Steam store clearly lists it.
Is this a good first Settlers game?
It can be, if you specifically want a classic logistics-heavy entry. If you want a smoother modern introduction to the series, a broader Settlers entry-point guide may be more useful before you commit.
Do I need a walkthrough?
Not at first. A short explanation of production chains, carriers, territory, and early economy flow is more useful than a full walkthrough. The main challenge is understanding how the settlement works, not following a fixed route.
Availability note
Digital storefronts, regional availability, subscription catalogs, and online features can change. Check your local Ubisoft and GOG listings before buying, especially if you are choosing between the History Edition, the GOG Gold Edition, and the broader History Collection. Stick to current legal storefronts or copies you can legally use, not unofficial downloads.