While the core Civilization experience is very much intact, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 has overhauled much of what has come before. Builders have been completely removed, the game has been condensed into three distinct ages, warfare has been revamped, and numerous systems have been changed to deliver a brand-new strategy experience. Many of these changes seem to have been received well by the community, but there is one feature that is sorely lacking in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7: Great People.
In Civilization 6, players would spend much of their time gathering Great Person points in hopes that they could earn powerful iconic people from throughout history. Civilization 7 still features Great People, but the way Firaxis has chosen to approach the concept this time around is drastically different from what has come before. The entire system has been simplified, making for a rather lackluster feature overall. And even though it does not ruin the experience, some players may miss Civilization 6‘s version immensely.
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How Civilization 7’s Military Victory Compares to Civ 6’s Domination Victory
Civilization 7’s victory types will look pretty familiar to long-time fans of the series, but its Military victory is a little different to Civ 6’s.
Civilization 7’s Great People Pale in Comparison to What Came Before
Civilization 6 Made Great People Feel Essential
In Civilization 6, players would earn various Great Person points as they made their mark on the world. These points would come from their resource yields and build towards unlocking these powerful iconic people from throughout history. Each type of Great Person would provide powerful abilities, like free technologies, faster Wonder construction, or upgrades to their soldier. Every player would compete for the same pool of Great People, making for a frantic competitive system that kept them on their toes.
There were nine different types of Great People, with each one providing bonuses in their respective categories. Great Admirals boosted navy-related things, Great Engineers helped with construction, Great Merchants would significantly boost players’ resource yields, and Great Scientists could help speed up research. Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians were vital for cultural gains and Great Prophets were required to found religions. While some were definitely more powerful than others, they could all help give players a competitive edge. However, Firaxis has chosen to remove that feature with Civilization 7.
Civilization 7 Has Stripped Down the Great People Feature Considerably
In Civilization 7, Great People are no longer earned by collecting Great Person points, as those have been completely stripped from the game. Instead, each civilization has its own unique Great People that can either be purchased or produced. They do require some specific conditions to be met before being unlocked and provide players with some nice bonuses, but the way they are unlocked does not feel as exciting as Civilization 6‘s version.
One of the best parts about a Civilization game is that players get to forge their own path throughout history, and letting them compete for various major historical figures really helps add to that. Just because the likes of Sir Isaac Newton were from Britain in real life did not mean that he had to be from Britain in Civilization. Players were able to make these iconic figures a part of their civilization’s history, making them truly feel like they were telling their own story.
On top of that, having players compete for a pool of Great People really helped add to the competitive nature of the game. Players were not guaranteed these powerful people simply because they checked off some boxes, they needed to ensure that their civilization was accumulating more points than another. If they fell behind, it could mean losing out on some powerful upgrades. And with Great Prophets, it could mean being completely locked out of the Religious victory.
It is nice that Civilization 7 still has a form of Great People, yet the way that Civilization 6 approached it just felt a bit more fun. It remains to be seen just how this system will evolve with the game’s DLC and post-launch updates, but it will likely not be overhauled back to what came before. However, hopefully a future Civilization game will bring the competitive aspects of Great People back in some fashion.
The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!
In Civilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.
Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.
Whether you choose to follow a path rooted in history or reimagine possibilities to chart your own way forward, build something you believe in and create a legacy that echoes through the Ages in Civilization VII.
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Released
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February 11, 2025