Civilization VII fails to meet expectations with revised gameplay

"Sid Meier’s Civilization VII," the latest installment in the long-running series, has been met with disappointment. The game, developed by 2K Games, struggles to live up to its legacy established nearly 35 years ago.

The game's mature references and occasional low-level oaths make it unsuitable for children, while older players may find it lacking in appeal. The objective remains to bring prosperity to a controlled nation and contend against competing countries through scientific advancements, diplomacy, and social policies.

The series originated the 4X genre—explore, expand, exploit, exterminate—but this formula has been significantly overhauled. Instead of progressing through numerous technological eras, history is now reduced to three stages. At each stage's end, gamers face a "crisis event" simulating a civilization's downfall. This change removes some enjoyment from engaging in historical anachronisms.

Each new period begins with a drastic reset of conditions, undermining the opportunity to build a lasting empire and compromising strategic depth—a key asset of previous games.

Many options are only available for purchase beyond the initial game cost. This approach seems aimed at maximizing revenue by restricting access to content that could have been included initially.

Parents should note that sexual matters are addressed remotely within gameplay; rulers may elevate lovers to power positions without graphic detail.

Notable new leaders include abolitionist Harriet Tubman. However, these additions cannot salvage what designers have lost sight of: the compelling nature of earlier installments.

"Sid Meier’s Civilization VII" is playable on various platforms including PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Linux, Macintosh and Windows. It contains combat violence and vague sexual content with sporadic mild swearing.

OSV News classifies it as A-II for adults and adolescents; the Entertainment Software Rating Board rates it E10+ for everyone aged ten and above.

Adele Chapline Smith reviews video games for OSV News.