Sid Meier’s Civilization VII review: a new age for a classic series

digitaltrends.com:

Sid Meier's Civilization VII MSRP $70.00 Score Details Pros

• Makes a daunting genre approachable
• Lots of emergent storytelling potential
• Excellent narration and soundtrack
• More engaging meta-progression

• Overly rewards aggressive play
• Individual civilizations are less memorable

Civilization games always grab me right from the first turn because of the potential they hold. I can have strategies for my campaign in mind, but I have to dynamically react and reshape my plans as I discover new areas, grow my cities toward specific resources, and meet other civilizations that could become friends or foes. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII does nothing to sully that fantastic core formula; in fact, it found a way to give me that feeling multiple times over.

If you’ve played a Civilization game before, you’ll generally know what to expect from Civilization VII as the core building blocks of this Firaxis franchise haven’t changed, although Firaxis keeps finding clever ways to keep that formula fresh. In the case of Civilization VII, it does so by leaning into giving players the tools to craft emergent stories of their own.

• Firaxis wants to make sure you actually finish a Civilization 7 game
• Start scheduling time off: Civilization 7 is releasing in February

Games are now split into three Ages, each of which can provide a fresh start and new opportunities for players as their efforts are reborn into a new civilization. While Civilization VII certainly favors those who play aggressively, and some aspects of its narrative delivery aren’t as impactful as they could’ve been, I still had loads of fun conquering the world, partaking in the space race, and more.

Nailing the 4X Fundamentals

Civilization VII is a 4X strategy game, meaning that its core game loop tasks me with exploring