Civilization 7 – Why an ever-changing world means this will be the biggest and best Civ game of all time

Whether you began playing Sid Meier’s original vision for Civilization back in MS-DOS days, or waiting for it to load for for an age itself on an Atari ST or Commodore Amiga, its mission was simple: Let the player recreate the history of the world in a computer game while somehow making it fun.

That was way back in 1991 and now, nearly 35 years later, Civ is finally in a position to make a key change to the way the entire series has played out with the introduction of Ages.

From the beginning of every new Civ game, we have had to choose a Civilization that would carry us throughout time. It never really felt weird that our Ancient Egyptians would end up launching rockets to the moon, but now, when you think about it, this is a fundamental change to the way the game is played.

Now, as the Ages pass by we will get to choose a new Civ to build on the Foundations of our past, and one more equipped for what lies ahead. You will keep all of your early Civ achievements and knowledge, but be able to branch out in a new direction. Clever. Finally.

Each age can also be played on its own, or rolled into a full campaign, which is how we imagine, most people will play it.

What are the new Ages in Civ 7?

• Civilization 7 will span three ages and these time periods bring big changes to the the game for the first time ever.
• The Antiquity Age: When agricultural societies begin to cluster into urban centers, forming the foundations of the first civilizations.
• The Exploration Age: When the desire for precious commodities from distant lands spurs empires to stretch across great oceans.

The Modern Age: A period of incredible technological growth and global conflict, where mankind goes from the development of the steam engine to the splitting of the atom.

Balancing act

As Carl Harrison, Game Designer at Firaxis explains, “Having unique Civs for each age is something we’re really excited about. In the past, every Civ needed to be balanced across a game that spans all of history. This naturally resulted in things like late-era Civs being strong in the late game but weak early on. Now, we can balance around the age itself. This means we can give every Civ bonuses, units, and buildings that are always relevant and powerful.

Having exclusive Civs per age is also great for historical immersion. Every age feels like an epic showdown of some of the great powers of that time.“

Leaders

For the first time, we can now choose leaders and Civs independently, leading to more customization scope. Any leader can head up a Civ. Leaders also have attributes now that you can choose from to develop your character through the ages, evolving them as you see fit.

The new art of Civilization 7

There is no doubt that Civilization VII is the best looks Civ game today, as it should be. Senior Art Director Jason Johnson said, “We’re at a spot in the industry now where we’ve just got a lot of tools and a lot of power under our belts to represent the entire world of civilization. We’re hoping that players can look into this game, see the diometric detail in it, and tell their own stories that they’ve never told before.

“Everything is going to fit together in such a different way than it has in the past, and I think it’s going to give you a much more realistic version of the simulation that you’re trying to create.”

Who is Civ 7’s new narrator?

This is always a big moment when any new Civilization game gets announced. Whose voice will be accompanying our journey for the next few years of our gaming lives? Firaxis has pulled a blinder here by unveiling Gwendoline Christie as the new voice of the franchise.

The British star of Game of Thrones and Star Wars, famous for her roles as Brienne of Tarth and Captain Phasma, is a nigh-on perfect selection to voice the Narrator, lending a Shakespearean gravitas to this new role. From the second she was unveiled in the Gameplay trailer, it was like Civ had never had a different voice, even though we have previously had Hollywood royalty such as Leonard Nimoy and Sean Bean take on the role.

When is Civ 7 released?

To our surprise, we don’t have long to wait. Civ 7 is slated for release on all platforms simultaneously on February 11th, 2025. We really hope that doesn’t slip as we can’t wait to get our hands on this one.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will be available in three editions: Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, and a limited-time Founders Edition. An additional limited-availability Collector’s Edition will be available, which includes physical collectibles themed around the game. Pre-orders are now open.

Civ 7 coverage on Readwrite

Here you can find links to all our other CIv 7 articles as they are published.

• Civ 7 editions – Which version of the new Civilization should you pre-order?
• Civilization VII gets first gameplay trailer at Gamescom, with a deeper dive to follow
• Civilization 7 removes one of Civ 6’s most annoying features
• Civ 7: Get ready, a new Civilization gameplay reveal is coming
• Civilization VII incoming – prepare to say goodbye to your family and life once again as God-tier strategy game gets leaked ahead of announcement

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