Sid Meier's Civilization VII Review - A Fine But Flawed Foundation

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is the newest mainline entry in Firaxis' long-running 4X strategy series, which is built on exploring, expanding, exploiting, and exterminating across procedurally generated maps. Taken on its own, each campaign remains a superbly engaging escapade across eras that will keep you playing for "one more turn" until you realize you're late for your sister's birthday party. Civilization VII is not just a game that you play to pass the time during weekends--the experience is compelling enough that it is the weekend, and maybe several weekdays of your life, too.

For Civilization VII, Firaxis has made some sweeping changes, most notably with how you progress through each historical period. Several of these new features are welcome, given that they address concerns from previous titles while also making campaigns more dynamic. However, a few design decisions are bound to be contentious, especially for longtime fans, since these mechanics tend to impact the player's control over certain outcomes.

One of the biggest changes in Civilization VII is how you choose leaders and nations separately. Gone are the days when picking Augustus Caesar or Napoleon meant automatically playing as Rome or France, respectively. Instead, leaders have a unique trait that defines their playstyle, and you can select a country independently to complement that playstyle.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Topics

Civilization 7's Early Reviews Suggest A Divisive Experience

Civilization VII reviews have gone live, and the new entry in the series is proving to be quite divisive with critics. A 4X turn-based strategy game, Civilization VII offers a familiar foundation ...
GameSpot - 6h
Civilization VII review – your empire strikes back in glorious new detail

PC, PS4/5, Switch, Xbox; 2K Games/Fireaxis The fiendishly addictive sim returns with compelling fresh challenges across the ages. Prepare to say goodbye to a lot of free time. Many years ago, ...
The Guardian - 8h
Civilization VII: All Ways To Earn Influence

Influence is a currency in Civilization VII that you'll need for a variety of reasons. Most notably, Influence is used to improve or worsen your relationship with the other world leaders you meet ...
GameSpot - 8h
Clark foundation awards grants to Iowa charities

Basketball star Caitlin Clark has awarded $22,000 grants through her foundation to four Iowa charities that she said inspired her during her time at the University of Iowa.
ESPN - 5d
The Foundation of Effective Leadership: Emotional Intelligence

Taking control of your emotions can help foster a better workplace. Here’s how.
Inc. - Jan. 19
Independent secures funding from Bill Gates’ foundation

It has given British media group more than $700,000 to fund journalism in ‘under reported’ parts of the world
Financial Times - Jan. 19
Sid Meier's Civilization VII Release Date, Platforms, And Everything We Know

One of the first major game releases of 2025 is one that players have been waiting years and years for. Sid Meier's Civilization VII is finally arriving after a long, eight-year hiatus ...
GameSpot - Jan. 16
Breakfast and financial education: help us deliver this foundation

The FT’s homegrown charity FLIC and Magic Breakfast are making a real difference for young people
Financial Times - Jan. 13
'Five-minute fine' prompts private car parks review

The review aims to ensure motorists are not penalised if they are unable to pay promptly.
BBC News - Jan. 13