Sid Meier's Civilization VII Review

Civilization VII arrives as the latest iteration in a series that has defined the 4X grand strategy genre for decades. For those unfamiliar, 4X stands for eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. These four principles guide the gameplay, encompassing the core actions players take to build and manage their civilizations. However, while 'exterminate' is part of the genre's definition, personally, I find the most rewarding victories come from avenues other than military conquest. Firaxis Games presents a refined experience as opposed to all-out revolution, building upon the established mechanics which work, while introducing significant changes designed to make this latest Civ better than the rest. The question remains: has Firaxis succeeded in elevating the Civilization experience?

Civilization VII retains the core gameplay loop familiar to veterans of the series. Explore the world you find yourself in, leveraging all clearly available resources such as water. Expand by growing each city, the numbers of cities, the population and your overall empire. Exploit the world around you for anything it can offer, as well as your opposing leaders through diplomacy, espionage or warmongering, and... well, let's just say 'influence' instead of 'exterminate.' Because really, who needs nukes when you have culture and science as avenues to win the game? Firaxis has implemented several key changes that significantly alter the strategic landscape. The dynamic diplomacy system represents a notable advancement, especially for those of us who prefer peaceful coexistence. Rather than relying on static relationships, players must now navigate a complex web of evolving alliances and rivalries. AI leaders react more dynamically to player actions, fostering a sense of organic interaction. This system necessitates a more nuanced approach to diplomacy, requiring players to consider long-term consequences and build strong relationships, which is perfect for pursuing diplomatic or cultural victories. Imagine, for example, forging a strong trade alliance with a neighbouring civilization, allowing for mutual economic growth, while simultaneously influencing their culture through shared wonders and trade routes. This leads to rich and satisfying gameplay via interaction with other leaders, as opposed to some perfunctory tick-box exercise when it’s not just you in-game.

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The introduction of era-specific wonders add a strategic layer to wonder construction, vital for a culture victory. These wonders, tied to specific eras, force players to prioritise their objectives. Deciding which wonders to pursue at any given time impacts technological and cultural advancement, demanding careful resource management. For players aiming for science or culture victories, these wonders can provide crucial boosts. Furthermore, the civic specialisations have been expanded, providing more granular control over civilization development. Players can now tailor their civics to align with specific victory conditions, allowing for more specialised gameplay, especially for scientific and cultural endeavours. Imagine choosing civics that boost science output and great scientist generation, leading to a rapid technological advancement and a space race victory, or perhaps ones which provide more happiness and culture at a time when you’re boosting that side of your chosen civ.

Even though there are many peaceful ways to win the game, combat is still a factor. The combat system presented here has undergone revisions, focusing on unit formations and terrain modifiers, adding to the tactical moments within the overall strategy on display. This allows for nuanced warfare if needed, or chosen as your route to victory. Those seeking peaceful victories can largely bypass this aspect, directing energies instead to developing strong internal infrastructure and diplomatic ties. The AI demonstrates improved tactical awareness, but this can be managed through strategic alliances and trade agreements. War will still happen if you’re not keeping a lid on things, but there are more levers to stop this from happening than ever before. The espionage system has also been enhanced, providing more tools for information gathering and influencing other civilizations without resorting to open conflict. The city-state system has also been refined, providing more interesting bonuses and a greater incentive to form alliances with them. For example, gaining suzerainty (think of it as a city which is yours in all but history) over a scientific city-state can provide a significant boost to research.

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Exploration mechanics have also been refined. Scouting expeditions allow for more efficient exploration of the map, providing valuable information about resources and potential threats, which is crucial for establishing trade routes and identifying strategic locations for cultural or scientific city placements. This system encourages proactive exploration, rewarding players who invest in early scouting. The addition of natural wonders with unique bonuses encourages exploration and strategic city placement. The increased detail of the map itself allows players to discover more hidden bonuses and strategic locations. Think about discovering a hidden valley with fertile land and a natural wonder that boosts culture, providing a perfect location for a new city.

The technology and culture trees have been redesigned, offering more interconnected paths, which is wonderful for those pursuing a science or culture victory. The eureka and inspiration systems remain, but their triggers have been adjusted to encourage a more strategic approach to research and cultural development. Players must now carefully plan their research and cultural pursuits to maximise efficiency, which is essential for a peaceful, but triumphant civilization. Great people have been reworked, providing more diverse bonuses and strategic options. Religion has also been expanded this time around, allowing for more customisation and strategic use of religious beliefs. One particular highlight is when you can send missionaries to other cities to spread the word and see other civs turn to your religion. 

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Civilization VII exhibits solid performance on PC. The game's visuals - when turned up suitably high - are a clear upgrade, with detailed terrain, expressive leader animations, and impressive cityscapes. The UI has been streamlined, providing clear information without overwhelming the player. Optimisation is commendable, allowing for smooth gameplay on a range of hardware configurations, down to at least a 6-year old PC which we played on. The audio design complements the visuals, with an orchestral score that adapts to the gameplay. The loading times have been reduced, allowing players to jump into the action more quickly. The mid-game, however, feels slow and laborious at times because each turn still takes a few seconds and depending on how things are going, you could be doing very little of anything except micromanaging to get more gold, or research, to help you make a positive change. Firaxis has at least recognised this section of the game can be irritating and to combat this you change civilization as the age moves into one of the new two you will hit in any game (three ages in total). It’s at first a little weird when you change civs totally, but you have choices which can allow you to continue in the way you have done, or go down a different route, and when you think about, there aren’t many civilisations in real-life which is today the same as it was four or six thousand years ago now, are there?

Civilization VII represents a significant step forward for the series. Firaxis has successfully integrated innovative mechanics while refining established systems. The game offers a deep and engaging strategic experience, rewarding careful planning and adaptability. The dynamic diplomacy, era-specific wonders, and refined systems contribute to a more nuanced and challenging gameplay experience. Civilization VII is a worthy addition to the franchise, providing countless hours of strategic engagement for those seeking to build a legacy through innovation, culture, and diplomacy, rather than military might. If militaristic domination is what you desire, that is here in spades, too. The depth of the game ensures that each playthrough is unique, offering new challenges and opportunities for strategic mastery. In summary then it’s more Civ. Is it better? In some ways yes - for example the superior leader interactions - and others no, such as the forced requirement to change civs at each age transition. Ultimately, any fan of the series or newcomer will find themselves absorbed for countless hours, and everyone will have their own preferred and not-preferred aspects of the game. It’s not black and white. As such, the game is impossible not to recommend as what is clear is that the package as a whole is delightful and perhaps stronger still because each person will have a slightly different take.