Following its launch on Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation, Civilization 6 became the fastest-selling entry in series history, and to date, it’s sold 3 million more copies than the PC-exclusive Civ 5. It’s clear that console ports had a significant impact on Civ 6‘s sales, so it’s only natural that Firaxis and Take-Two have wanted to capitalize on that right out of the gate with Civilization 7.
The latest entry in the long-running 4X franchise, Civilization 7 launched simultaneously on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and even the Nintendo Switch, and a VR port is already confirmed to be releasing in Spring. That leaves just one platform for Civilization 7 to conquer next, and luckily, it already has some experience in that field.
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Civilization 7 Should Get a Mobile Port (Eventually)
The Civilization Franchise Has Plenty of Experience in the World of Mobile Gaming
In 2008, Firaxis released Civilization Revolution, a console-only spinoff designed to give a whole new audience a simple and clear introduction to the franchise, and the 4X genre as a whole. Though it was deliberately much more simplistic and streamlined than the mainline entries that came before it, Civilization Revolution still offered a compelling strategy game experience, and it (mostly) achieved what it set out to do.
In 2009, Civilization Revolution received an ambitious iPhone port. This mobile port – the first of its kind for the franchise – was met with a middling reception from critics, with the consensus being that the game captured the spirit of Civ Rev well, but it had some issues in the UI and technical departments.
In 2014, a sequel to Civilization Revolution was released exclusively on iOS and Android. Civilization Revolution 2 received a mixed reception from fans and critics alike, with some praising the game’s visuals and performance on mobile platforms, and others criticizing the game for essentially just being the original 2009 Civ Rev repackaged with a handful of new features.
But in 2020, Civilization fans finally got their first proper mobile port of a fully-fledged, mainline entry. Developed by Aspyr (now mostly known for its recent cavalcade of Star Wars ports), Civilization 6‘s iOS and Android port received glowing reviews, with the game being a one-to-one recreation with new, intuitive touch controls and very few technical drawbacks.
Just a few months ago, Civilization 6 was added to Netflix‘s ever-growing library of mobile titles. For no extra cost, Netflix subscribers can now play Civ 6 on their mobile devices, and arguably, this version runs even better than the 2020 mobile iteration. This version also comes with the Rise and Fall and Gathering Storm expansions packed in. Civilization‘s mobile ports have only gotten better over the years, and it can all be leading to an eventual Civilization 7 port.
Before expanding to mobile, however, Firaxis needs to fix a few key issues with Civilization 7, such as its UI and a handful of missing features from past entries.
Civilization 7’s Gameplay Suits Mobile Play
Civilization 7 has made some pretty significant changes to the franchise’s gameplay loop, but none of these changes would mean that Civ 7 couldn’t be ported to mobile platforms. In fact, Civilization 7 has actually made some changes that could make it the most intuitive mobile iteration yet, with the Steam Deck version already allowing players to use a touchscreen, and the console version introducing a radial menu that allows players to access diplomacy options more easily via controller.
Civilization 7 is also already available on the Nintendo Switch, where it runs surprisingly well. Given that the Switch is less technologically advanced than some modern mobile devices, it seems likely a Civ 7 mobile port isn’t outside of the realm of possibility.
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Released
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February 11, 2025