Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

[DOS=HIGH]

Official Teaser Trailer

ETA is 2025, more info coming this August. I have such a love hate with the series. Lose so much sleep with 'just one more turn'.

[jztemple2]

Civ IV was the high point for me. I had trouble getting as excited over the next two editions. We'll see.

[Torfish]

Looking forward to it.

I dream of two things:

• AI is coded to take advantage of every civ's strengths and weaknesses, all map types, and all game modes. Including ones they add in DLCs

• Great graphics so the game stays visually enjoyable until Civ 8

I'll be buying it no matter what, but those two things will determine if I put in a couple hundred hours or a few thousand hours.

[Sudy]

Civ IV was the high point for me. I had trouble getting as excited over the next two editions. We'll see.

V for me.

I'm fine with the series advancing... I look forward to trying it when it drops in price or I can pick it up in Humble Monthly or something. But I have zero interest in paying full AAA price for a new release that gradually re-introduces missing features and civilizations one by one as DLC. The future continues to lie in indies that reimagine and reevaluate the genre, not in obligatory, visionless sequels.

[Kraken]

Civ IV was the high point for me. I had trouble getting as excited over the next two editions. We'll see.

V for me.

I'm fine with the series advancing... I look forward to trying it when it drops in price or I can pick it up in Humble Monthly or something. But I have zero interest in paying full AAA price for a new release that gradually re-introduces missing features and civilizations one by one as DLC. The future continues to lie in indies that reimagine and reevaluate the genre, not in obligatory, visionless sequels.

Civ IV was certainly a high point...I think it was the last iteration that had direct Sid Meier input, and I remember a fantasy mod that remade the game completely. Civ V got rid of the stacks of doom, and VI deepened citybuilding strategy with districts. Both of those were good improvements that it took me a while to warm to.

The first Civ made me ditch my Tandy 1000 for a computer with a hard drive, and that wasn't the last time a new Civ game would make me upgrade my rig. Hell, this PC is six years old and Microsoft is threatening to obsolete the OS in October '25, so I'll probably need a new machine right around then anyway. But I'm with you on being skeptical of the 1.0 release. The last couple of Civ games needed major patches and some DLC to become what 1.0 should've been, and I expect that VII will continue that proud tradition.

My biggest hope is that they take advantage of recent developments in AI. Imagine a game that learns from and adapts to players' strategies. The GalCiv2 developers manually re-coded their AI to incorporate the best strategies from player saves uploaded to their Metaverse, and they produced the best strategy game AI I've ever encountered. Imagine if every Civ player's game could do that on the fly. And imagine if the AI module could adapt to new game content as DLCs are added (standard Civ AI usually doesn't know how to play them). Non-game AI is advancing so rapidly, and Civ's AI has always been so bad, that this is where they could really advance the whole genre.

[Blackhawk]

Civ IV had the best theme, too.

[Lagom Lite]

I'll be watching this with interest, but I fear that Firaxis has peaked as a company. Do they even have any talent still working for them?

Civilization 5 and the first X-COM were real advancements, risk-taking innovations. Civilization 6 and X-COM 2 were solid iterations, but "safe" as it were and didn't push any boundaries. Firaxis hasn't been innovative with their game design in over a decade.

But, benefit of the doubt.

[AWS260]

Yeah, I really hope they break the mold on this one. I am a superficial person, and I never picked up Civ 6 because it seemed so similar to 5.

What I'm saying is, give us Gandhi vs. Cleopatra Mortal Kombat-style.

[Carpet_pissr]

Civ IV was the high point for me. I had trouble getting as excited over the next two editions. We'll see.

V for me.

Same, but as with all Civs (at least prior to VI) caveat is ‘with all expansions’.

[Mandeville]

Day one purchase. It's going to be tough waiting for details. It has been a long time that I have been excited about an announcement.

[msteelers]

I'll be curious to see the PS5 reviews. I haven't had a gaming PC in a long time, but playing Civ on a console seems challenging. Except for CivRev, which I loved.

[gbasden]

I'll be curious to see the PS5 reviews. I haven't had a gaming PC in a long time, but playing Civ on a console seems challenging. Except for CivRev, which I loved.

I can't imagine playing it on a console. But maybe I just have a failure of imagination.

I thought Civ VI was awesome, so I'm definitely excited about this.

[LordMortis]

Now I can wait for Civ VI super duper complete to have a deep sale and pick it up to replace my weak version. Civ as a Subscription isn't for me, so this time I'll show some patience and wait for Civ VIII to pick up Civ VII instead of paying $70 up front and feeling like I'm missing so much content in six months. I really enjoyed Civ VI and the first couple of expansions but paying so much for so little but feeling compelled to so was a failing on my part.

[Baroquen]

I get your point and the 'DLC model they use is irritating to me too. But there's no way I'd wait for a potential eight years to pick up VII. It'll probably be a day one for me, or close to it. But I applaud your discipline!

[wonderpug]

Civ IV had the best theme, too.

Baba Yetu is definitely the best Civ song, but I've got an affinity for Civ VI's Sogno di Volare (also composed by Christopher Tin) because a friend of my wife's was in the chorale that performed that one. She even got to visit Skywalker Ranch to do the recording.

[gbasden]

Now I can wait for Civ VI super duper complete to have a deep sale and pick it up to replace my weak version. Civ as a Subscription isn't for me, so this time I'll show some patience and wait for Civ VIII to pick up Civ VII instead of paying $70 up front and feeling like I'm missing so much content in six months. I really enjoyed Civ VI and the first couple of expansions but paying so much for so little but feeling compelled to so was a failing on my part.

Steam Played - 537 hours. $70 means I spent 13 cents an hour for that entertainment. That seems pretty reasonable. I have a hard time seeing how that was so much for so little, but that's just my perspective.

[Smoove_B]

My love for Civilization started on an Amiga, back in 1992, but I'm not exactly sure which version is actually my favorite. I want to say 3 or 4, but I wasn't playing either on Steam so I don't know how many hours I've spent on them. I have played 5 and 6 but I bounced off them pretty hard; don't remember why.

I'll certainly watch for more information about this new one and history suggests I'll eventually purchase it, but I'm beginning to think the issue is that I've changed, not Sid Meier.

[LordMortis]

Now I can wait for Civ VI super duper complete to have a deep sale and pick it up to replace my weak version. Civ as a Subscription isn't for me, so this time I'll show some patience and wait for Civ VIII to pick up Civ VII instead of paying $70 up front and feeling like I'm missing so much content in six months. I really enjoyed Civ VI and the first couple of expansions but paying so much for so little but feeling compelled to so was a failing on my part.

Steam Played - 537 hours. $70 means I spent 13 cents an hour for that entertainment. That seems pretty reasonable. I have a hard time seeing how that was so much for so little, but that's just my perspective.

I put in a lot of time with vanilla. It wasn't a bad buy but I can't do the DLC costs like they do them for the planned but not revealed way they do things. Just like with Paradox games. I *did* break down and spend $23 today to upgrade it from vanilla to complete. It likely will have a deeper discount later (It looks like it's been as low $11) but $23 is fine. Now I just need to make time to play again.

My love for Civilization started on an Amiga, back in 1992, but I'm not exactly sure which version is actually my favorite. I want to say 3 or 4, but I wasn't playing either on Steam so I don't know how many hours I've spent on them. I have played 5 and 6 but I bounced off them pretty hard; don't remember why.

I'll certainly watch for more information about this new one and history suggests I'll eventually purchase it, but I'm beginning to think the issue is that I've changed, not Sid Meier.

I thought I was the biggest addict for the original Civ that I knew. But I knew one guy who lost his very serious girlfriend because he missed dinner with her family when he lost track of Civ time and another guy whose room mates threatened to kick him out unless he got away from the game, got up and took a shower after a several day marathon. They both had me beat by quite a margin.

[Blackhawk]

I think my first 'Civ' game was Alpha Centauri, followed by 3 and 4, which I played the bejeesus out of. I bounced off of 5 (I don't remember why), and while I picked up a Civ 6 bundle cheap at some point, I never actually spent any time with it. I think it's because of guilt for not getting my money's worth out of 5, which makes no sense... but human psychology is that way sometimes.

[dbemont]

I've enjoyed all of them except for 5, which I just found bland.

But I see Civ as basically a light game, taking a very light look at history. It plays the same role in my life that sitcom type TV long played in many of my friends' lives. Maybe kind of like Big Bang Theory, not brainless, but definitely not to be taken too seriously. And I think a lot of the complaints come from people who try to crank difficulty up really high and turn it into something it's just not well-suited to be.

One thing I hope is that, like IV, this one is deeply moddable. Given the chance, people can come up with some really crazy stuff. They really hobbled the modders in 6, and that was too bad.

[The Meal]

A big ‘+1 to Don’s post above this one. I’m at >1k hrs on each (version excepting the original and V (and those were no slouches, except that II was just a mild improvement on the first, and V was just so very different from IV, not always in the direction of more fun).

I have no doubts that I’ll enjoy the new mechanics introduced in VII, whatever they end up being. The whole Civ process makes for an enjoyable experience to me.

[Kraken]

A big ‘+1 to Don’s post above this one. I’m at >1k hrs on each (version excepting the original and V (and those were no slouches, except that II was just a mild improvement on the first, and V was just so very different from IV, not always in the direction of more fun).

I have no doubts that I’ll enjoy the new mechanics introduced in VII, whatever they end up being. The whole Civ process makes for an enjoyable experience to me.

1,347 hours on Civ VI. I haven't played it for almost a year so I reckon I'm ready for VII. I'm 900 hours into Stellaris and about ready to move on from that. I hear they made a Baldurs Gate 3, so maybe I'll go there next. I understand it's a quickie, just a couple hundred hours.

[gbasden]

A big ‘+1 to Don’s post above this one. I’m at >1k hrs on each (version excepting the original and V (and those were no slouches, except that II was just a mild improvement on the first, and V was just so very different from IV, not always in the direction of more fun).

I have no doubts that I’ll enjoy the new mechanics introduced in VII, whatever they end up being. The whole Civ process makes for an enjoyable experience to me.

1,347 hours on Civ VI. I haven't played it for almost a year so I reckon I'm ready for VII. I'm 900 hours into Stellaris and about ready to move on from that. I hear they made a Baldurs Gate 3, so maybe I'll go there next. I understand it's a quickie, just a couple hundred hours.

You say that, but I'm at 542 hours played in BG3 so far.

[Brian]

7500+ Hours played Civ 6
3100+ Hours plaed Civ 5

So,yeah, I'm definitely picking up Civ 7

[Jolor]

Civ V - 677 hours played
Civ VI - 113 hours played

Don't have stats for the previous games as they were box buys but I suspect Civ II would be the highest. Heck. I likely had more time in Call to Power than Civ VI. I have absolutely *no* idea why VI didn't grab me so, while I fully expect to buy VII eventually (because it's Civilization), I'm more interested than excited at this point.

[Apollo]

...The future continues to lie in indies that reimagine and reevaluate the genre, not in obligatory, visionless sequels.

Well said! I finally bought Civ VI long after it released for like $6 and played it for 30 minutes total. If the next one isn't radically different I think I'm done with what was once my favorite PC game.

[Unagi]

I feel like each of the Civs has had some pretty good 'vision' applied to them. It's a little hard to defend Civ against critiques like 'it changed too much' and also they failed to reimagine and reevaluate the genre. Civ is almost its own genre and can't depart from that "too much", and still I feel like it's done a pretty good job staying 'Civ' and yet trying to reimagine and reevaluate that.

While I'm super happy that Civ made room for something like Against the Storm, I don't expect it to go that path, and I'm certainly interested in what they come up with next.

[Carpet_pissr]

I have absolutely *no* idea why VI didn't grab me so, while I fully expect to buy VII eventually (because it's Civilization), I'm more interested than excited at this point.

Same.

I’ve had VI installed forever just waiting on me to try it one more time to see if it will take, as it were.

It comes down to me doubting my ambivalence towards the title. Unpossible…it’s Civ…it gets rave reviews…obviously I’m missing something, and not being able to describe what turns me off is maddening (and further makes me question my judgement here). I have a weird brain.

[Unagi]

If the next one isn't radically different I think I'm done with what was once my favorite PC game.

So, they have a really hard target to hit if they want to get you back.

You have ~your favorite PC game~, and they need to make something radically different from that - but maintain Civilization at its core?

[LordMortis]

I have absolutely *no* idea why VI didn't grab me so, while I fully expect to buy VII eventually (because it's Civilization), I'm more interested than excited at this point.

Same.

I’ve had VI installed forever just waiting on me to try it one more time to see if it will take, as it were.

It comes down to me doubting my ambivalence towards the title. Unpossible…it’s Civ…it gets rave reviews…obviously I’m missing something, and not being able to describe what turns me off is maddening (and further makes me question my judgement here). I have a weird brain.

Having just purchased the Anthology upgrade from vanilla, It's a pretty dramatic and overwhelming shift. Essentially the major expansions become a build your own play-style AFAICT. So right now I'm basically just still playing vanilla with all the extra civs trying to relearn the game. I'll worry about appocolypses and zombies and I don't even begin to know what else after I've settled back in.

[Archinerd]

I'll probably get it, but I'm not sure if it will be a day one for me. I liked both V & VI, and the trade routes were my favorite part of whichever one of those two added them.

What I want from VII is three things;
1). A more open ended sandbox style game, and not the increasing focus on win strategy's from the most recent games.
2). An AI that is fun to interact with.
3). The "holy grail" of the whole franchise. Somehow keep the magic of the early game going on into the later turns.

[LordMortis]

3). The "holy grail" of the whole franchise. Somehow keep the magic of the early game going on into the later turns.

The holy grail of all 4x TBS and specifically grand strategy 4x TBS.

[Carpet_pissr]

I would say the holy grail of these types of games, and Civ specifically, is minimizing end game grind. That has always been a challenge for the series, but it's very rarely turned me off enough to where I quit a game due to said grinding.

[Jolor]

I have a weird brain.

Same.

[Carpet_pissr]

I would say the holy grail of these types of games, and Civ specifically, is minimizing end game grind. That has always been a challenge for the series, but it's very rarely turned me off enough to where I quit a game due to said grinding.

Archinerd basically said this…I retract my comment.

[The Meal]

VI was basically built around minimizing end game PITA. You can’t have too many cities (without blowing up your economy), and there are non-bulk methods for winning (even the conquest victory isn’t the whole planet, just a subset of capital cities). They addressed a big fault from earlier in the series.

[Lassr]

It'll be a first day purchase for me also. Every Civ since the first has been release day purchases. Got almost 600 hours into CivVI.
One part I do not like about Civ VI is the religious victory, I do like that you can turn it off and ignore it. But I hate that there is no way to stop their priest etc when on your land, without fighting with another religious unit, or threaten them in diplomacy if they convert a city. I'm always wanting to expel those bastards and can't...

[El Guapo]

It'll be a first day purchase for me also. Every Civ since the first has been release day purchases. Got almost 600 hours into CivVI.
One part I do not like about Civ VI is the religious victory, I do like that you can turn it off and ignore it. But I hate that there is no way to stop their priest etc when on your land, without fighting with another religious unit, or threaten them in diplomacy if they convert a city. I'm always wanting to expel those bastards and can't...

I also think that the religious victory is a little silly and pretty cumbersome. It's silly because it's so divorced from reality - you can't just march an endless parade of preachers in and easily convert a continent. And the rock band religious conversion is just plain stupid. And it's all pretty cumbersome because the whole process is mostly crank out endless preachers and march them over to foreign cities, rinse and repeat.

[El Guapo]

Anyway, I probably will wind up buying Civ VII, though probably not on day 1, because it fits a niche of 4x games that are well done and that I don't have to learn *too* new mechanics.

But what I really want is Alpha Centauri 2.

[Kraken]

It'll be a first day purchase for me also. Every Civ since the first has been release day purchases. Got almost 600 hours into CivVI.
One part I do not like about Civ VI is the religious victory, I do like that you can turn it off and ignore it. But I hate that there is no way to stop their priest etc when on your land, without fighting with another religious unit, or threaten them in diplomacy if they convert a city. I'm always wanting to expel those bastards and can't...

I also think that the religious victory is a little silly and pretty cumbersome. It's silly because it's so divorced from reality - you can't just march an endless parade of preachers in and easily convert a continent. And the rock band religious conversion is just plain stupid. And it's all pretty cumbersome because the whole process is mostly crank out endless preachers and march them over to foreign cities, rinse and repeat.

Rock bands are kinda fun. Culture wins are the hardest for me and a supergroup or two can take me over the line. Plus I like making band names.

I'm sure religion will get re-thunk as it does in every new Civ. I was chuffed that I couldn't put apostles on sentry to prevent priestly infiltration.