Civilization 7’s Bold Approach to Accessibility: Pros and Cons

Diving into the world of 4X strategy games, we’re talking about a genre that’s rich in complexity. 4X, which stands for “Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate,” demands a lot from its players, engaging them in both management and micromanagement of these key aspects simultaneously. Each 4X game tackles these elements in its own way, especially those in the well-known Civilization series, making them a major player in the genre.

At its core, the Civilization series follows a straightforward gameplay loop. Players guide their chosen civilization through different eras, vying for one of the usually four types of victories. However, over time, achieving these victories has grown more intricate. Because of this complexity, newcomers to the franchise might find it daunting. But Civilization 7, the latest installment, changes the game. This entry is probably the most user-friendly in the main series to date, though this shift is a bit of a double-edged sword.

In Civilization 7, the path to victory is laid out more clearly than ever before. Right from the get-go, players can select advisors who offer ongoing tips on how to accomplish one of the game’s victory paths. These advisors help guide players by suggesting technologies, buildings, and units to focus on, and they prominently showcase key objectives, known as Legacy Paths, on the main screen.

Complimenting this feature is Civilization 7’s extensive tutorial, stretching throughout the player’s first game. As they play, they’ll encounter frequent pop-ups offering insights into the game’s various mechanics, from new introductions like the Commander system to well-established elements like city development and tile improvements.

The game’s user interface aids this guidance further. Each turn, players are shown a checklist of actions at the bottom right of the screen. This feature ensures that players complete vital actions for each turn, such as commanding units, researching new technologies, organizing production, and expanding settlements.

With its design, Civilization 7 seems crafted primarily with newcomers in mind. The interconnected systems walk players through the game step-by-step, easing them into decisions and actions one turn at a time. This thoughtful approach greatly helps new players from feeling overwhelmed by the franchise’s traditionally complex mechanisms.

However, making the game more approachable hasn’t caused much of a deviation from the core formula for long-time fans. Players familiar with the series can easily switch off tutorials and tooltips, overlook advisors, dismiss the pinned objectives, and tackle their actions in any order during each turn.

That said, Civilization 7’s streamlined nature might not sit well with all seasoned players. For instance, managing cities has been simplified, notably by eliminating the builder unit, and instead of founding cities with settlers, players need to use gold to upgrade autonomous towns.

Additionally, while the Legacy Path system is beneficial for guiding new players, some veterans may find it restrictive. For example, achieving a Military victory requires 12 settlements by the end of the Antiquity Age, with captured settlements counting as two. Although this provides a clear goal for beginners, it might feel constrained compared to previous versions, which allowed more flexibility in pursuing a Domination victory through capturing enemy capitals.

In the grand tapestry of Civilization’s evolution, Civilization 7 offers a fresh perspective, accessible enough for newcomers without completely disregarding its core fans. This balance poses a brave shift that could usher in a new era for the franchise.