And, ultimately, a little too much for me.
I’ve dabbled in the expansive Civilization franchise in the past, though Civilization Revolution resonates with me the most. That console off-shoot of the popular turn-based strategy juggernaut is arguably the most inclusive, allowing someone like me the chance to play using a controller rather than a mouse and keyboard. I’ve grown a bit since that time myself, and would consider Star Trek Infinite my current go-to within the 4X genre.
I jumped at the chance to see if the upcoming Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 was for me — partly because I’ve built up some knowledge with Infinite, and partly because 2K and Firaxis have learned quite a bit since the days of Revolution. The pair have not only provided a host of helpful tutorials to get a relative beginner like me started, but have ensured that this new entry is controller (and Steam Deck) compatible.
In the end, I opted out of plugging a controller in to my RTX 2070 Super-powered PC and went the traditional route. Jumping into the first age available, Antiquity, I first experimented with Harriet Tubman. I was pleased to see I could begin play using high defaults, and quickly marvelled at just how beautiful my world looked as I set out to found my first town.
In each of my early attempts — bolstered by different stats and bonuses and playing as Tubman, Augustus, and Benjamin Franklin — I generally made it to turn 40 before I’d decided I’d cocked things up. Truthfully, I did the best with Augustus, leaning into the Roman empire by stacking my hexagonally shaped map with myriad soldiers, slingers, and Legion. While I was keeping to my city and two settlements, I ended up spending most of my turns shifting soldiers around my territories while building wonders, researching technology, choosing civics, and expanding my hubs.
The trouble is, I’d built up so many soldiers that my lands were safe and I had seemingly little to do with them. After fortifying areas, I went back to listen to my military advisor and realised I was flagging far behind my goals. Expected by that point to have twelve different settlements, I set off and found a small village that I believed I could take over. The colour of the village didn’t seem to match any of the three other powers I’d identified in the region, so I couldn’t accomplish my goal. Instead, I was prompted to see if I wanted to become friendly with the independent.
While Civ 7‘s tutorials do a tonne of heavy lifting, the game is chock-full of myriad complexities I didn’t wholly understand. It was here that I remembered what happened within Star Trek Infinite — this wasn’t a major power, but a town that would eventually ally with one. Would I take it over peacefully, or instead invade after allegiances were defined?
I decided I needed to go crazy on my military because other playthroughs seemed to demand it. Playing as Franklin — and you can see fifteen minutes of that run above — I kept to myself, building just one military unit. Then, I was constantly attacked by invaders while I was trying to be peaceful. Alliances — or, at least the ones I was trying to build — couldn’t be forged as quickly as my buildings, and I believe it was the latter that made fellow powers so hostile.
That’s a stab in the dark, however — I have no idea what was truly going on. I’m not a huge history afficionado and I don’t generally delve into strategy. Trying to equate things back to Star Trek Infinite only made me appreciate how simple the tie-in is in comparison, and how my pop culture addled brain can make a tonne of connections that I was struggling to form here.
Klingons are noble, but always hungry for war. Romulans are shifty and generally untrustworthy. Cardassians are duplicitous and are looking for ways to stab you in the back. I couldn’t tell you what Harriet Tubman’s tactics are, nor what I should expect from Napoleon (any version, for the record).
While some may encounter knowledge issues, Civ 7 is an undeniable delight for those who’ll opt to play with a controller on console, PC, or a PC handheld. With a controller, you’ll use your right stick to move along the map, and the left stick to organise commands. A series of context-sensitive buttons will prompt you to move to your next unit, acknowledge the completion of a wonder, and much more. I actually realised I wasn’t upgrading my Legion until using a controller and getting into a piece of the UI that I’d completely ignored.
In the end, I managed to wheel and deal — kind of literally, as researching the actual wheel was involved — in progressing to the next age. If you’re a huge fan of the franchise, or a history buff, I can imagine all the complexity I described above is already piquing your interest. For me, the thought of moving into a new area with all-new complexities had me finish up for the day.
Expect Civilization 7 from 11 February 2025 on Windows PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
 |
Sid Meier's Civilization 711 February 2025, 5 June 2025 (Switch 2)PC PS5 Switch Switch 2 Xbox Series S & X
|
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
