
Before diving into a new match in Civilization 7, players have a variety of customizable options, including the crucial difficulty settings. This game offers six distinct difficulty levels, catering to everyone from novices to seasoned strategists, starting at the beginner-friendly Scribe level and culminating in the punishing Deity mode.
While the standard setting is Governor, players can adjust the difficulty to match their preferred challenge. However, it’s essential to understand that changing the difficulty in Civ 7 does not alter the fundamental mechanics of the game; instead, it provides significant bonuses to AI opponents, which can create a formidable challenge for those unfamiliar with the game’s systems.
Understanding the Difficulty System in Civilization 7

In Civilization 7, difficulty settings primarily dictate the scale of bonuses granted to AI players. It’s vital to note that these changes do not affect AI decision-making, resource allocation, or map configurations. Instead, higher difficulty levels provide the computer-controlled opponents with substantial perks that can impact gameplay.
For instance, in Deity mode, AI leaders begin with numerous advantages, often in the form of critical resources like Culture and Science. However, their strategy and decision-making skills remain unchanged, allowing experienced players to find opportunities to outmaneuver them despite the disadvantages posed by increased bonuses.
Overview of Civilization 7 Difficulty Levels
Difficulty | Approximate Experience |
---|---|
Scribe | 1 – Beginner |
Governor | 2 – Standard |
Viceroy | 3 – Intermediate |
Sovereign | 4 – Advanced |
Immortal | 5 – Expert |
Deity | 6 – Maximum Difficulty |
Modifying the Difficulty Level
To change the difficulty in Civilization 7, navigate to the game creation screen following your selection of a Leader and Civilization. The option for setting the difficulty is prominently displayed as the first item in the final game settings menu.
Currently, it remains uncertain if future content updates will introduce additional difficulty levels, although enhancements in other game creation functionalities are in progress.
Choosing the Right Difficulty Level in Civ 7

For those new to 4X grand strategy games or Civilization series enthusiasts, starting at the Scribe difficulty is advisable. This setting minimizes the bonuses that AI opponents receive, allowing new players to acclimate to game dynamics without excessive pressure.
The default difficulty of Governor aligns closely with the Prince level from previous Civilization titles. For players who possess some familiarity with the series or the grand strategy genre, Governor serves as a well-balanced entry point without AI advantages.
As players gain confidence and skill, they might consider escalating to higher challenges, such as Viceroy, Sovereign, or Immortal, where they will encounter progressively greater bonuses for AI leaders. At the apex of difficulty, Deity mode presents a formidable challenge, with AI opponents enjoying substantial initial advantages.
Entering Deity mode immediately is generally ill-advised, even for veteran players.Civilization 7 introduces significant changes in mechanics compared to its predecessors, thus spending time mastering lower difficulties can be beneficial before tackling the game’s ultimate test.
Investing time in understanding new elements and dynamics will prepare players to excel, empowering them to strategize effectively against the AI’s advantages at higher levels.
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