Can you explain to me why Confucianism never became a religion as Hinduism or Buddhis

Yeaa how come Confucianism never became a religion especially since it was so popular.

I typically convert my people to Confucianism in my civilization game.

It was more of a philosophy than a religion; likewise with Buddhism. Confucianism was a way of running the Chinese government at the time. In fact, future government officials had to pass exams based on Confucius' teachings in order to work for the government.

For the same reason that Mark Twain never became a religion: they both had clever, witty sayings, many of which can help improve your life. But Confucius wasn't promoting a path to God/Deity. Religion, by definition, is a prescribed path to a higher power. Confucius was about living life here on earth and interacting with ones fellow humans; not about how to live life in order to prepare for the next life.

Technically speaking there are 7 elements of religion - or rather 7 things a religion has to have in order to be a religion. This is a scientific process theologians agree on:

1. Practical and Ritual
2.Experiential and Emotional
3. Narrative and mythic
4. Doctrinal and Philisophical
5.Ethical and Legal
6. Social and Institutional
7. Material

This system was developed by Ninian smart.

Religion developed differently in the west and the east. So in the west threes a book, a god, and a place of worship (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) but in the east it didn't occur that way.

They're still religions, they're just different formats. Does this make sense?

Confucianism IS actually a religion, and so is Buddhism. They can be practiced as just a philosophy, but are often practiced as a religion.