Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 isn’t afraid to take risks

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When you’re well into the ninth installment of a series, finding ways to keep it exciting becomes quite a task. I must confess, I was intrigued to see what new ideas Firaxis Games had in store for Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 to set it apart. Having spent over 15 hours playing it, that curiosity is now laid to rest.

In the new version of this game, you’ll immediately observe a significant shift in the leader selection process compared to previous versions. Previously, leaders were directly associated with specific civilizations, like Bismarck with Germany or Queen Elizabeth with England. However, in this updated edition, leaders and civilizations have been separated. This means that you can choose a leader based on their unique bonuses, such as Benjamin Franklin for science advantages, while selecting Rome as your civilization due to its militaristic culture. Although it may seem unusual to have Benjamin Franklin leading Rome, this separation allows for new possibilities that weren’t available in the past. Additionally, you might notice that Benjamin Franklin didn’t actually govern his chosen civilization; instead, he significantly impacted it. In Civilization 7, many leaders were influential figures who didn’t necessarily lead their civilizations but left a lasting impact on them.

As I delved into Benjamin Franklin’s and Roman times, a sense of déjà vu washed over me, even though I’ve mainly bypassed Civilization 6 since its release and have only played around five hours of it since 2016. Despite the rust, the initial phase bears striking resemblance. You establish your capital, traverse the map, encounter new personalities, and strive for a promising debut.

In my second establishment, I encountered an exciting new development. Although it’s technically a city, anything established afterwards becomes a town in Civilization 7. This blend of cities and towns adds a unique character to the gameplay. Cities are dynamic hubs designed for increased production and scientific advancement, while towns operate differently. Instead of having a production queue, towns convert their output into Gold. Gold is essential for purchasing buildings, units, and other upgrades within a town. Additionally, towns can specialize in areas such as agriculture, trade, mining, or military defense. If desired, you can also invest Gold to transform a town into a city, providing unparalleled flexibility in molding your civilization.

In Civilization VII, there’s an overwhelming amount of action taking place. To detail everything in this article would result in a lengthy bullet-point list, which would undoubtedly be appreciated by series veterans. Instead, let me discuss one final aspect that altered my perspective on territory control: the introduction of navigable rivers.

Indeed, waterways that divide continents and link to internal bodies of water are now navigable, introducing fresh gameplay possibilities that were previously unavailable. I managed to navigate my Cog ship along the river and into the interior, launching an attack on a rival civilization while bombarding one of their cities which would have been harder to reach otherwise. This also enables you to manufacture naval units in cities other than just coastal ones.

The hiccup arises when managing territory, particularly with a city of mine situated on a river and poised for naval operations against a distant civilization ruled by Xerxes. However, the section of the river flowing into the sea was under Isabella’s control. As I wasn’t eager to engage in conflict with her at that moment, I had to secure open borders so my ships could navigate upstream to the ocean, then cross over to Xerxes. Regrettably, the open border agreement ceased when I initiated hostilities against Xerxes, leaving one of my vessels stranded on an upriver section. Needless to say, this will necessitate resolution through future wars. In subsequent games, though, I’ll be more cautious and ensure complete control over rivers to prevent such predicaments.

There’s still much we don’t know about Civilization 7, and I, for one, haven’t spent enough time with it yet to form a well-rounded opinion. To do that, I need to explore various civilizations and objectives across multiple game sessions. Until then, I’m thrilled by the sneak peeks I’ve had, but I’d say I’m still in the early stages of my relationship with the game. If you’re looking for a comprehensive analysis of what Civilization 7 offers, check out my review on Monday, February 3, at 9:00 a.m. ET, or watch the hour-long gameplay video embedded here, featuring Shacknews EIC, Asif Khan, sharing his reactions to an early playthrough.

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2025-01-16 17:28