They are all separate games that work independently of one another. Exodus includes both Creatures 3 and Docking Station: The latter can be a stand-alone, but it can be enjoyed with C3 as a sort of addition.
Personally, I love Creatures 1! This comes with Creatures 2 in Creatures: The Albian Years. I remember playing it long ago, and years later, I've started getting into the genetics side thanks to the more simplified genomes in C1. "Simple" isn't really the term... Only when compared with the later genomes! But that's just one part of the game. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses: It really depends on what you're looking for.
Creatures 1: This is where the series started! Although the oldest in the series, some argue that it could be the best, simply because so much time was put into the artificial life aspect. The gameplay and world are both a bit limited when compared with the other titles. There really is no ecological aspect of growing plants or building mini-ecosystems. The third-party addons are also fairly limited, both in part because of the game itself and its status as the oldest version. If you would like a wealth of screenshots and whatnot, I focus on Creatures 1 over at
Discover Albia! I'm a bit biased, but I feel like if you've never played Creatures, this one certainly deserves a chance. Somehow, getting attached to the Norns is the easiest.
Creatures 2: I enjoy the breathtaking world present in this title! A real ecological system was introduced here, and although not enormous, the possibilities are pretty awesome. The Norns are vastly improved from C1, although not all of the original improvements were the greatest: Sometimes Norns can act a little too unintelligent! The third-party content here is pretty broad, and the natural feeling to the game is quite amazing. On the downside, C2 has always been riddled with errors and glitches. Even today, I experience random crashes from time to time. It's beautiful to look at, but I always felt it was a bit unpolished. Still, the Norns are quite endearing!
Creatures 3 and Docking Station: By far, this is the most popular game in the active Creatures community! New addons seem to be created every week, and players are still exploring new ways to enjoy the game. It really is robust with what you can do, even with the base game. There are environments to manipulate (to a degree) with plants and animals, an entire ship to explore, and pretty amazing Norns. Not only is third-party content available as objects in the game, but there are also new or updated scripts that can improve/change elements of C3/DS. I never felt like the creatures were that much more intelligent, though, and I've found it very difficult to bond with them. It's great for feral and wolfing runs, though! Also, even with the various terrariums, it still feels very mechanical and cold. I suppose that's to be expected on a space ship, but it's a very far cry from the natural world of C2!
Creatures Village: This title is a very simplified version of Creatures that appeals to a younger audience. It's more of an adventure about exploring the world with your Norns. Naturally, you can't really help but get attached to them! The games and fun things are enjoyable, but I never felt like it was a game that really connected with me. It certainly has its place among certain players. Just be aware that it's not the best thing for looking at the more advanced features of the series, such as genetics and biochemistry.
As I said, it's really a personal choice as to which game(s) would suit you best. With the current promotion going on over the weekend, you can pretty much pick up C1, C2, and C3/DS for just about the price of one of the bundles! My personal recommendation would be The Albian Years, since it includes both C1 and C2. And I've loved C1 since the first time I played it! Creatures Exodus is not one to really miss out on, though.
Hopefully this sheds a little light on the games! I'm sure others would be happy to share some opinions, too. Good luck!
