PC Critic Reviews

Civilization VII is bold enough to add big changes to its formula, without getting rid of everything that has made the series iconic. Say goodbye to your free time, as from PC to handheld, every waking moment will be consumed by One More Turn.

Civilization VII is very much the Civilization for now – deep and complex, but with an emphasis on human drama and achievement rather than the sweep of faceless units across a mathematical matrix. There are still few moments in video games as pleasing as building the Hanging Gardens, or discovering a bountiful new location for a town, or marching a phalanx of troops into a battered enemy capital. This game, which once almost cost me my job, will gracefully sneak away with hours, days and possibly months of your life. But then, nobody ever conquered the world in an afternoon.

When you're the best, the hard part is confirming it. Firaxis Games does it again this time, and it does it on many levels. It does it with the revolutionary age system, with specific game mechanics for each of them. And it does it on many small occasions, every time it makes a choice simple and intuitive, perhaps thanks to the cleanliness of the interface. Civilization VII is at the same time the most complex 4X on the market and the easiest to approach, with a remarkable vastness of possible approaches. The fact that the imperfections can be counted on the fingers of one hand is something miraculous.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII stands as a testament to the enduring strength of its franchise, much like a civilization that continues to thrive through the ages. Rather than resting on its laurels, it has evolved, constantly integrating innovation and the best elements from its predecessors to further solidify its place in gaming history. Its ability to embrace change while maintaining its core essence proves that this legendary series is still capable of standing the test of time. Civilization VII reaffirms that the series remains as relevant and compelling as ever.

It can’t be denied how impressive Civilization VII is as a complete package. This is a franchise that finds a way to continually satisfy, even when compared to its already glowing legacy. Amongst a sea of strategy games, Civilization VII stands tall as a title that understands its identity, shows incredible attention to detail, and lives up to lofty expectations. Future expansions will undoubtedly fill certain notable absences, but even before then, we still have a formidable release that’s deservingly ready to eat away at your free time.

The best Civilization game to date, offering a much-welcome refresh for longtime fans while providing the perfect entry point for newcomers. Addictive and immersive, it will quickly become your new favorite game as you lose track of time in its deep strategic gameplay.

Firaxis gathered its courage to rethink a license which, more than ever, was in need not of novelty but of a new, solid foundation. There's still a lot to build on, but if we find that 'just one more turn' feeling back, Civilization VII also manages to seduce us for 'just one more game', which is probably the scariest thing I've ever written.

This new installment takes a step forward in gameplay, making it feel both familiar and fresh. Moreover, the game has been provided with enough depth, giving enthusiasts plenty to explore again without losing sight of newcomers thanks to accessibility. Audiovisually, it's also excellent, though the base game still feels a bit light in content, but that will be supplemented in time. In short, an excellent strategic game.

Civilization 7 has completely surprised me. I was ready to hate the new civilization and age system, I was ready to grumble at the sneaking live-service features. Instead, I’ve fallen into a deep obsession with Civilization again. The game fills with me a warm fuzzy feeling that makes me feel like a child rushing home to play Civ 4 on a dusty old beat-up CRT with a packet of biscuits and no responsibilities.

Civilization 7's biggest changes fix mid- and end-game pacing, clean up clutter on the map, and open up more strategic avenues than ever before. Victory and unit balancing will no doubt be tweaked as developers receive feedback and data, but otherwise, the game is in a great state (something that's becoming increasingly rare in AAA games). Pricing and DLC gripes aside, Civilization 7 should prove to be the best playground for world domination for years to come.

Civilization VII is the most revolutionary and innovative installment of the legendary 4X turn-based strategy saga. The division of the games into 3 eras, and the possibility of choosing a leader and civilization separately are just the tip of the iceberg of a large number of interesting new features. The title offers thousands of hours of content, retains all the features that took the saga to the top, and offers excellent audiovisual finish and a fully polished experience free of bugs.

Despite my gripes, the biggest compliment that I can give Civilization 7 is to say that this review is inconvenient. Any time I’m talking, writing, or thinking about the game, I want to play it. I’ve been writing this for hours, and those are precious hours where I could be growing my Ming empire and slapping the other leaders around. Civ 7 is an absolute banger.

Regardless of my minor gripes with the game, Civilization 7 is a ton of fun. The Ages system is a major game-changer and really enhances the genre in a big way. Firaxis probably could have gotten away with a safer approach with this installment, opting for just better graphics. Instead, it boldly revamped a lot of the core systems to make the entire game more streamlined for both newcomers and veterans alike. I’m glad Firaxis is still finding ways to improve a genre it has mastered over the years, and as a result, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 has the series in its best shape yet.

Civilization VII is a bold, feature-rich reinvention of the series, packed with personality and stunning detail. While some issues remain, Firaxis has delivered a landmark strategy game that’s impossible to put down—once it gets its hooks in, you’ll be chasing just one more turn.

A courageous chapter in the Civilization saga. The new "Eras" mechanic breathes new life into a trusted formula. The best 4X turn-based strategy game of this generation.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is a fearless evolution of a formula that risked becoming static over the years. The result is undeniably positive, but the idea remains that the studio has kept a couple more weapons in its pocket to stretch out the experience with DLCs and expansions. Even so, and despite a few bugs, Civilization VII is an unmissable experience and is more than ready to stand the test of time, turn after turn.

Despite the major changes that will surely be met with skepticism by longtime fans, Civilization 7 is a work that is perfectly consistent with the vision of its creators. Taken individually, innovations like the transforming civilizations and the separation between eras might seem jarring, but together they fit seamlessly into the evolution pursued by Firaxis, which is now much more focused on specific moments in human history and provides an outstanding synthesys between the fourth, the fifth and the sixth installment.

Midway through my fourth game of Civ 7, I forced myself to go to bed to squeeze in a minimally appropriate amount of sleep before work. When I woke up in the morning, my first thought was that I wanted to keep building my empire, and that's when I finally knew how I felt about the game. Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is streamlined, strange, and bound to be divisive. It's also, undeniably, Sid Meier's Civilization. As ever, the series stands apart.

With Civilization 7, Firaxis successfully modernizes the franchise while staying true to its legacy. The evolution of eras, more strategic diplomacy, and the new military system bring a much-needed refresh to the series. City management feels smoother, expansion is more natural, and architecture evolves over time, making each empire unique. The visual style, reminiscent of Civilization V, combined with an immersive soundtrack, further enhances the experience. More accessible without sacrificing depth, this installment could become the new 4X benchmark. The big question remains whether Firaxis will provide long-term support, but one thing is certain: Civilization 7 is a turning point for the franchise, and it has what it takes to surpass Civilization V.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a great game. Firaxis’ work is presented as an extremely complex experience, and from a distance, it can be boring for more than one person. However, once you pay attention to it, you discover something addictive that gives you a shot of dopamine with each new concept you manage to understand. The title allows you to create your own story, and the way in which each civilization advances reacts in real time to your decisions. The way in which a society evolves is natural, and it gives you enough space to work like a book, or go crazy and present scenarios that are the dream of more than one.