Sid Meier’s Civilization series has long been the gold standard in turn-based strategy, offering players the thrill of guiding an empire through the ages and watching history unfold, one turn at a time.
With Civilization 7, developer Firaxis Games reimagines many aspects of the franchise, introducing improvements to combat, a fresh take on diplomacy, and a restructuring of the game’s historical progression.
With only a handful of playthroughs to draw on, it’s impossible to grasp the full depth of every leader, map type, and victory condition. But after over 30 hours and a few thousand “one more turns,” we’ve got plenty to unpack.
Breaking and Rebuilding Civilization
At its core, Civilization 7 attempts to evolve the formula by shifting away from the traditional linear historical trajectory. Players now move through three distinct Ages—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern—each requiring them to adopt a new civilization. This approach aims to keep gameplay fresh, introducing dynamic shifts in cultural identity akin to Humankind.
Leaders (of which Civ 7 offers plenty of new and interesting choices) are no longer tied to a fixed empire, and cities downgrade into towns between eras, forcing adaptation and flexibility rather than the traditional slow accumulation of power. This system offers intriguing possibilities, as players can select new civilizations each time an era transitions, gaining access to unique bonuses, units, and civic paths. On the surface, this promotes flexibility and prevents the stagnation that sometimes crept into longer Civ playthroughs.
However, the execution of these era-based transitions isn’t without its drawbacks. The abrupt nature of these shifts can feel artificial, and the transitions lack the organic progression that defined earlier entries. Cities downgrade, diplomatic relations reset, and strategies built over decades of in-game time are suddenly thrown into disarray. Instead of encouraging thoughtful adaptation, these shifts can feel like a forced reset rather than an evolution. It can also be narratively jarring—having Benjamin Franklin lead Rome, only to switch to Spain in the next era, takes some getting used to.
That said, this mechanic challenges players to think beyond a singular strategy. My initial frustration at losing my units and shifting my civilization gave way to an appreciation for the unpredictability it introduces. Each playthrough unfolds uniquely, making it difficult to gauge how different players will react. Change is always difficult, and Civ 7 embraces it wholeheartedly.
A Streamlined Experience
One of Civilization 7’s defining features is its emphasis on accessibility. The user interface has been overhauled for clarity, and the game is designed to be more intuitive, particularly for newcomers or those playing on a console. The streamlined mechanics will appeal to those who appreciate a smoother entry point into the series.
However, this accessibility comes at the expense of the franchise’s trademark complexity. Important mechanics can feel obfuscated, buried within menus rather than surfaced clearly for strategic planning. The Civilopedia, once a reliable in-game encyclopedia, often fails to adequately explain core concepts or sometimes has no entry to explain how certain systems interact. For veteran players aiming to min/max their empire, this lack of transparency can be frustrating, often forcing a certain amount of trial and error.
The Weight of Decisions
Civ 7 introduces a more dynamic narrative experience, with pop-up events offering choices that can shift the trajectory of a civilization. These moments grant bonuses at the expense of diplomatic setbacks or resource management challenges. While they provide the illusion of moral dilemmas, they rarely feel truly consequential. Most of the time, the impact boils down to minor inconveniences—spending influence or resources to smooth over a setback rather than wrestling with meaningful decisions.
Diplomacy, a cornerstone of the Civ experience, relies on Influence points. I’m still undecided on this change, as in past games leaders had distinct personalities, with hidden agendas and evolving relationships shaping the political landscape. In Civ 7, diplomacy feels a bit more like a transactional numbers game. Leaders rarely exhibit unique traits beyond simple modifiers, making alliances and rivalries feel a bit mechanical rather than organic. Playing as Franklin meant I was rarely out of pocket on Influence, so mileage may vary depending on your leader, play style and difficulty.
City Management
Managing your civilization has always been central to the Civ experience, but in Civ 7, this process feels streamlined but also slightly restrictive. Classic systems such as assigning citizens to specific tiles reduce the sense of control and customization, while the new system, which uses slotted resources feels more flexible.
A huge improvement is the elimination of builders and workers, which is a welcome change for those who dislike micromanagement. City management paradoxically also feels both overly simplified and unclear. Some happiness mechanics, adjacency bonuses, and city growth opportunities felt less intuitive than previous entries, requiring me to sift through multiple screens for crucial information. Given my limited playtime, I haven’t fully grasped the long-term implications of these changes, but certain omissions—such as the inability to trade cities outside of war or even name settlements—feel like a step backward.
It’s a trade-off with games as system-intensive and strategically focused. Though I suggest if I could travel back an era to Civ 6’s 2016 release, I may have spent just as much time trying to decode the systems as I have this time around. History surely, repeats itself.
Look the Part
On a positive note, Civ 7 truly excels in its presentation. The game is visually stunning, with detailed environments and impressive animations that bring each civilization to life. Wonders are beautifully rendered, and the map is filled with vibrant details that make exploration rewarding. Christopher Tin’s soundtrack adds an epic layer to the experience and one that gives an epic and operatic feel to the gameplay. Gwendoline Christie’s narration also lends a gravitas that enriches the atmosphere, though I can’t help but miss Sean Bean’s epic narration.
Yet despite its visual splendour, the core gameplay—once defined by emergent storytelling and the thrill of empire-building—feels somewhat fundamentally changed. For better or worse, I haven’t fully grasped it. The grand linear narratives of war and alliances, victories and conquering are still there, but the era changes can feel like a hit of inertia right at the peak of gameplay momentum.
Often the stopwatch ticking down can add some sweat to the brow, but whether it’s a welcome change is yet to be seen. With an undeniably polished framework coating an efficient, well-oiled machine, the core gameplay loop still manages to draw the player in, but equally snap them out if not careful.
Final Thoughts
Civilization 7 takes bold steps toward accessibility and streamlining, but in doing so, it sacrifices some of the depth and complexity that made the series iconic. The new era-based civilization shifts, while ambitious, can feel disruptive rather than evolutionary, though time will tell how well these issues age. Diplomacy is a bit shallower, while city management is easier if not more restrictive.
Yet for all these criticisms, that ‘one more turn’ magic is still very much alive. The first time I booted up Civ 7, I was lost in its world for 12 hours straight. Despite its flaws, it remains an engaging and addictive strategy game. It’s a game that invites its harshest comparisons from itself, and its previous entries, an empire reckoning with its very evolution. Stagnate or pursue something new and unknown? The Civilization series has always been about change, yet ironically, change is often what the fanbase struggles with the most.
Will Civ 7 stand the test of time like its predecessors? That remains to be seen. Whether longtime fans embrace its changes or yearn for the familiarity of earlier entries, Civilization 7 offers a compelling—if occasionally jarring—evolution of the franchise. And despite its missteps, it remains the premier turn-based empire builder on the market.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Streamlined city building; Gorgeous visuals; Ambitious era-based civilization shifts
Lowlights: Shifts can also feel a little jarring; Streamlined approach to gameplay also strips some sense of control and freedom
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Available: Now
Review conducted on PC via Steam with a release code provided by the publisher.
