Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 launches players into the familiar scenario of guiding a settler to found a new city on untamed territory. From the inception of your civilization, you engage with a tech tree, leading you to rediscover fundamental advancements like the wheel. As you progress, the range of strategic choices expands significantly, mirroring the broader themes of the series. The challenge lies in balancing longstanding traditions with fresh innovations—an ongoing endeavor since the franchise’s inception in 1991.
In this new installment, Civ 7 distinguishes itself with a bold new Ages system that segments civilizations across three unique eras. However, many elements feel like natural progressions from the sometimes contentious features of Civ 6. Just as Civ 5 became a benchmark for many players despite its controversial changes, Civ 7 is poised to evoke similar mixed reactions.
Redefining the Core Mechanics
Preserving the Essentials
While Civ 7 introduces numerous new features, long-time players are quick to notice what has been omitted, particularly during their initial gameplay. Starting with a limited selection of map types and sizes can feel restrictive. In the early days of your empire, the absence of familiar elements like workers and Great People is pronounced. Although it is customary for the series to streamline components at launch, removing core features that have historically defined the franchise can be jarring.
In contrast, newcomers may not find these omissions troubling.The changes often come across as refined design choices rather than mere cutbacks, reflecting a progression that Civ 6 was not yet ready to embrace. While I do miss the classic workers, my nostalgia stems from their historical roles rather than the adaptations made in Civ 6. Not every missing feature is justified—players are once again unable to rename cities, a frustrating lapse that Civ 6 also faced at its debut but rectified later.
The foundational gameplay of Civ 7 revolves around advancing your civilization through various Ages, focusing on enhancing production capabilities, whether that pertains to tangible goods or the generation of food, income, technological progress, and civic advancements. Engaging in warfare remains a viable strategy for territorial expansion; however, establishing new districts and exploring new lands can be equally significant.
A clear increase in detail offers a more visually rewarding experience for urban development, steering away from the exaggerated cartoonish style of Civ 6.
For players who enjoy a broader approach, Civ 7 presents new strategies. As per tradition, expansion brings unhappiness; however, this is primarily due to exceeding a particular settlement limit.A noteworthy change is the focus on towns, whereby every outpost beyond the capital starts as a town and reverts back after each Age transition. Players can invest financially to elevate these settlements to cities, allowing for more expansive territorial control without overwhelming micromanagement.
The Ages System: A Safety Net for Struggling Civs
Navigating the Challenges
The refinement of micromanagement is a crucial aspect of Civ 7’s design, ultimately aimed at encouraging players to complete their campaigns. Numerous changes—both positive and negative—contribute to this objective, but the most controversial is the Ages system. Most notably, the system necessitates civilization transitions at the commencement of the Exploration and Modern Ages, leading to peculiar shifts like the transition from China’s Ming dynasty to the Qing or from Majapahit to France.
While the Ages system is presented as a more authentic representation of historical progression, this argument falls short. It attempts to simplify a complex series of events into abrupt resets, leading to disconnections—for instance, maneuvering the Mayans under Ben Franklin lacks historical grounding. However, this system does create opportunities for revival. If a civilization is teetering on the edge due to unrest or technological setbacks, holding on until the next Age can be a saving grace.
This idea echoes a concept from the similar title, Humankind, which didn’t resonate with me initially. Yet, in Civ 7, this mechanism proved effective—I managed to secure victory in my first game primarily because transitioning to the Modern Age rescued me from several missteps. Furthermore, the option to delve into “Dark Age”choices offers strategic possibilities for civilizations in dire circumstances.This is coupled with civilization traits that enhance era-specific strategies, such as the advantages Japan sees in aggressive overbuilding during the Meiji period.
Room for Improvement in the Ages System
Less Nuance, More Clarity
Each Age introduces its own Legacy Paths, thematic challenges focused on cultural, economic, military, and scientific growth. While some of these seamlessly integrate into the gameplay loop, others require notably specific strategies. Players can theoretically complete games while disregarding Legacy Paths in the earlier Ages, but they become increasingly essential for victories in the Modern Age.
Civ has historically struggled to articulate the concept of Culture Victory, and as expected, this has resulted in frustration here as well. Achieving the Legacy Path relies on an erratic quest for historical artifacts, a concept that, while interesting, feels like an arbitrary victory condition. The thrill of the chase is enjoyable; however, the fact that other methods exist to recover artifacts adds to the confusion, especially when alternatives integrate poorly into gameplay.
The Spectrum of Progression: Pros and Cons
Allowing Victory to Shine
Overall, Legacy Paths exemplify Civ 7’s inclination towards direct, clearly defined progression mechanics, raising some inner conflict for me. Civ 5 shifted the series from its simulation roots toward more structured board game elements, a trend that continues with its successors. While Legacy Paths offer easily identifiable milestones, they detract from the sandbox feel that long-time players appreciate. Alongside the reduction in map variants—a consequence of integrating features tied to a Distant Lands mechanic enhancing the Exploration Age—the experience feels more linear than ever.
Furthermore, the integration of defined tasks is meant to guide new players, yet it simultaneously reduces the sense of discovery within historical contexts. Although some innovations, like clear communication regarding upgrade contributions, can be advantageous, they steer gameplay towards a more rigid direction. Despite its ambitious vision regarding the Ages, Civ 7 feels like it has limited its scope.
The elements of progression I particularly dislike, especially in their current forms, involve the meta aspects. Achieving space race success in a Civ game signifies a monumental achievement, represented by the triumphs of humanity. In contrast, being directed to a screen that levels up Confucius feels decidedly anticlimactic. While I recognize the merit in some underlying concepts, the overall impression lacks the gravitas one would expect from a Civ title and appears to borrow ideas from lesser games.
Building on Civ 6: New Possibilities and Challenges
The Path Forward Is Challenging
As a sequel to Civ 6, Civ 7 finds its footing with smart streamlining, shedding unnecessary components while leaning into the core elements that propel the game.Several design choices are particularly brilliant, including the implementation of navigable rivers that enhance naval gameplay and newly crafted Army Commanders that elevate Great Generals into a modernized solution for combat strategy. Independent Powers have also been effectively integrated, blending features of barbarians and city-states.
However, Civ 7 occupies a complex position within a franchise rich in history.Some of its mechanical transparency leaves something to be desired, particularly in diplomacy, which feels genuine mainly within the contexts of war. The focus on inflexible systems may threaten the series’ hallmark of endless replayability, especially if the charm of civilization swapping eventually diminishes. Nevertheless, I have yet to tire of the gameplay.
Civilization titles rarely emerge fully formed at launch, and Civ 7 is no exception. Yet, I’m hopeful for its evolution through post-launch updates and expansion packs that may introduce new layers of complexity. Questions around monetization and the necessity for additional civilizations warrant discussion, but the foundational gameplay feels solid. Instead of attempting to fill what might be perceived as an incomplete shell—a challenge that Civ 5 managed due to its compelling core—Civ 7’s future enhancements could unlock the potential of the Ages system.
Conclusion & Review Rating
Screen Rant Awards Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 a Score of 9/10
By the time I reached my third game with Civ 7, I had processed most of my initial frustrations and concerns. By the fourth, those thoughts began to fade away. While I remain uncertain about the future trajectory of the franchise, overly fixating on outpacing the series’ legacy may lead to disappointment. It’s easy to highlight shortcomings, but the game beneath is almost at the apex of the strategy genre, successfully fulfilling its primary objectives.
The Civilization series has long been evolving akin to the Ship of Theseus, raising questions about fidelity to what Sid Meier’s legacy should embody. Discarding a narrow view of the series’ identity, it’s important to acknowledge that one quintessential aspect defines Civ: a Civ game must evoke that urge for “one more turn, ” compelling players to engage for countless hours.
Halfway through my fourth playthrough, I made a conscious decision to go to bed to ensure adequate rest for work. However, the moment I awoke, my strongest desire was to return to empire-building.Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 may be streamlined and unconventional, potentially sparking division among fans, yet it undoubtedly cements its place in the Civilization lineage. As always, this series remains distinctive within its genre.
For the purpose of this review, Screen Rant received a PC download code.
Source: Sid Meier’s Civilization on YouTube
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