Navigating the world of 4X strategy games, known for “Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate,” often means diving into intricate layers of management and decision-making. These games demand your full attention as you juggle these core elements, with each title adding its unique spin to the mix. Sitting at the pinnacle of this genre is the Civilization series—a name synonymous with complex strategy.
At its heart, Civilization offers a straightforward premise: guide your chosen civilization through time, striving to claim one of the game’s typical victory conditions. But simplicity quickly gives way to complexity as you engage with these goals, a journey that has grown more nuanced over the series’ lifespan. This depth can be intimidating for newcomers, yet Civilization 7 manages to bridge the gap, presenting itself as the most accessible entry to date, for both good and ill.
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Venturing into Civilization 7, you’re met with an unprecedented focus on accessibility. The game starts by offering a roster of advisors who provide continuous support on achieving the different victory paths, suggesting technologies, constructions, and units crucial for success. They even pin key objectives, known as Legacy Paths, to your main display. This approach is complemented by a tutorial that spans your entire first playthrough, guiding you with pop-ups that explain game mechanics—both new and longstanding, like the Commander system or city growth and development.
The game’s user interface plays a critical role in maintaining this guidance. Every turn brings a checklist of actions in the lower right corner, ensuring players complete essential tasks like unit movements, research advancements, and settlement enhancements, all one step at a time.
For those just stepping into the expansive world of Civilization, this structured approach is a welcome introduction. Civilization 7 meticulously guides new players through its interconnected systems, ensuring they aren’t overwhelmed by the complexity that defines the series.
However, this simplification might alienate some dedicated fans. While experienced players can sidestep most tutorials and freely manage their objectives and actions, the streamlined experience might feel lacking. For instance, the removal of city management intricacies, such as the builder unit, and the necessity to use gold instead of settlers to develop towns, demonstrates this shift.
Similarly, while the structured progression through Legacy Paths is ideal for beginners, it might restrict veterans accustomed to more freedom in earlier games. Take the Military victory path in Civilization 7, which specifies objectives like controlling a certain number of settlements by a particular age—a departure from past games where capturing enemy capitals was enough to seal a Domination victory.
The evolution into a more accessible game doesn’t strip Civilization 7 of its strategic depth but instead aims to welcome new players while retaining its core. This balance might not please all, but it ensures that Civilization’s grand, turn-based journey remains compelling.
