After years of avoidance due to past experiences, I’m finally back to review Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. As a writer who was once “addicted” to the series, I mustered up the courage to dive in again. The game has undergone significant changes, making it more accessible while maintaining its signature depth.
In Civilization VII, you no longer play as a single civilization throughout the entire campaign. Instead, you select a leader with attributes you admire and guide them through three distinct historical ages, each with unique units and buildings. This new structure eliminates the feeling of being overwhelmed by a powerful neighbor, allowing you to reset your objectives and relationships between nations.
The game also introduces attribute points based on achievements in six categories, which can be spent on related skill trees, making it feel like a role-playing game. Legacy targets serve as quests, moving you towards an outright victory. Diplomacy has been revamped with the use of influence to organize shared cultural events and economic pacts.
Visually, the game boasts vibrant colors and authentic details, from mountains to cities, creating an immersive experience. Battles are now animated tussles between intricate miniaturized troops and thundering armoured vehicles. The opponent AI still holds true to its reputation, providing a mix of peaceful nations and warmongers.
Civilization VII is still the game that fans know and love – deep and complex, with an emphasis on human drama and achievement rather than faceless units. Building the Hanging Gardens or discovering a new location for a town remains some of the most satisfying moments in gaming. This updated classic will consume hours, days, or even months of your life, but as with all great conquests, nobody ever achieves victory overnight.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/feb/03/civilization-vii-review-your-empire-strikes-back-in-glorious-new-detail