Not unpopular, but correct opinion....
The Best Civilization Games, Ranked*
Last: Call to Power. I can't even.
6. Civilization. I want to give it bonus points for being the first, but naw.
5. Civ2. The beginning of modern Civilization.
4. Civ6. Ugh. I don't know where to start with this one, but while it has people that absolutely love it, this was the first time in the entire series that the game managed to miss that sweet spot that kept me coming back for just .... one ... more ... turn. I've probably played less of this one than any other "main line" Civ game.
3. Civ3. Easily the best of the pre-modern Civs. Probably the one I played the second-most.
2. Civ5. Jarring at first (WHERE IS MY TANK STACK??), it gradually grew on you ... especially with the much-needed expansions. And mods, mods, mods.
1. Civ4. There can be only one. Civ4 might not have been perfect (no game is), but it was the watershed game in the series. It made Civ3, which was a great game, look like nothing. Also? Leonard friggin' Nimoy.
I have spoken.
*Why not Alpha Centauri and Beyond Earth? Because. Think about it, and you'll understand.