Civilization VII Gameplay
Trying to explain the overarching gameplay in a Civilization game can be extremely difficult, as there are so many systems and mechanics at play. Civilization VII is a city builder where you try and build the best empire the world has ever known. You’ll expand your empire across three distinct ages in world history: the Antiquity Age, the Exploration Age, and the Modern Age.
In a big change for the series, every time a new Age begins, you’ll choose a new civilization to use. For example, in the Modern Age, you can choose to settle America and expand the civilization from scratch. From there, you’re able to discover new locations and technology, meet world leaders from distinct regions, and unlock tools that aid your empire’s growth. Every civilization available across the three Ages features unique abilities, attributes, military units, and other aspects that distinguish it from other civilizations.
As you start your civilization, you’ll appoint a world leader to run it. This is a huge choice, as each leader has different strengths and weaknesses that will determine how your empire is run. Each leader has a unique ability that empowers what they are best known for throughout history, which entangles with your chosen civilization’s unique ability and other qualities.
Over the course of a match, which can last dozens of hours, you’ll ally with or face off against other rival civilizations. There are numerous ways to ultimately win, with Civ VII settling on four different victory conditions: Science, Culture, Military, and Economic. These each offer distinct ways to approach your expanding civilization; will you lean into dominating opponents, or fend them off while you make scientific advancements over the ages?