I think my favorite Civilization game is actually Civilization Revolution. It is a casualized console release, but I feel it has just the right amount of complexity to be a really fun, chill game. Also, I like going for an economic victory in that game.
Came to advise this. Its like “baby’s first civ”. Which sounds reductive and like I’m trying to be mean, but its not. It gives you a good intro to the core concepts.
I think I would have really enjoyed Civ Revolution had I not already played a ton of Civ 4 on which it was based. I just couldn’t get over what was missing.