A video game franchise that has indeed stood the test of time, Civilization has been iterated upon and in many ways been perfected as an incredible strategy series. Seven mainline releases later and countless expansions to boot means there’s a huge history of iterative design choices that have helped to keep this franchise thriving. Releasing a new game amongst such a well-defined legacy therefore comes with its own potential perils. Yet I can confidently say that Civilization VII feels like one of the most self-assured Civ launches in a very long time with a strong identity that is grounded in history whilst still feeling fresh and exciting.

The dawn of human civilization is captured with absolute grandeur when a new game of Civilization VII begins. This game offers a rich world that perfectly encapsulates that “4X” identity—with players tasked with building up a new empire into a world-dominating superpower of agriculture, science, territory, faith, economy, military and so much more. The world feels alive in part thanks to the graphical style that elegantly toes the line between realism and something a bit more fantastical.

This is a series that spans all of human existence and never before has it managed to capture that feeling so wholly. The hexagonal tile-based design will be instantly familiar to tabletop and strategy gamers, reading from a distance as clear and tasteful. But zoom in a little and that’s when the real beauty begins to shine. In the early phases of the game, you can watch fish dart around the coral on reef tiles and embers flicker into the atmosphere on campsites. In the later stages of the game, you can watch as your metropolis hums to life with surges of electricity, billowing smokestacks, and cranes moving produce. It’s all very gratifying as the world feels dynamic and full of movement. It’s these details that are vitally important—creating a feeling of immersion and connection unlike any Civilization title previous.

The visuals combine with the gameplay in some fantastic ways, too. Navigable rivers, for instance, don’t just give the landscape some variety, they also act as channels to the ocean for inland empires. Examining the sound design you can hear equally impressive production. Beyond the grand and orchestral score composed by Geoff Knorr, Roland Rizzo, and Christopher Tin, we can also appreciate the narration talent of Gwendoline Christie, imbuing the experience with authority, splendour, and pizzaz.

The three ages don’t just offer a new strategic choice, either. They act as reset points, milestones to aim for that shake up the game and keep you energised to finish it out.

There’s a good amount of Civilizations overall, once you take into account all of the game’s eras. However, it does feel as though some parts of the world are far better represented than others. It’s not a problem on a gameplay level, but those who get a kick out of seeing certain Leaders and Civilizations in their games may feel disappointed. It’s the first and one of the only stumbles of this release because you can feel that certain aspects, including the available playable roster, were designed with expansions and downloadable content in mind. That is further reinforced when you realise there are only 3 map sizes and a small handful of map types available. Much more can be done to bolster player choice at the creation of a new game, and I’ve no doubt we’ll see that happen over time.

The strength of this series is in both its strategic prowess and its ability to allow players to live that revisionist history fantasy. Those two pillars of design are still incredibly prominent and it’s what will make Civilization VII yet another successful release. I’m particularly impressed though with how that identity can still remain intact whilst notable changes can be seen in many different areas. The ideas here feel streamlined and smart. Take city expansion and workable tiles, for instance. Rather than a system where your city expands out steadily over time and you construct worker units to work the tiles, instead Civ 7 ties the two ideas into one as you select which tiles you’d like to work, expanding your territory as you go. At first glance, it may feel as though there are fewer opportunities for tactical choices due to this streamlining. However, what you’ll end up discovering is that the systems retain their depth through larger more important choices rather than many less important micro-decisions that simply stall out each turn.

Streamlined mechanics allow you to focus on the game’s more dynamic content, such as battles. As with every iteration, war will play a big role in a Civilization’s history and so to see some improvements in this area is commendable. Enemy AI overall just feels a bit smarter, but it’s what you can do with an Army Commander that gives Civilization VII an edge over its predecessor. All unit promotion is funnelled into your Commander, allowing you to shift your army into a more aggressive playstyle, something built around maneuverability and flanking, defences and fortifications, or perhaps pure logistical advantages. Assemble your army onto your Commander and deploy when required. Issue powerful commands such as Focus Fire or Coordinated Attack and enjoy the tactical opportunities that come with each and every battle.

The game’s Diplomacy overhaul is an absolute standout as well. Gathering Influence becomes the driving force for all of your diplomatic prowess. This resource can be used to suzerain Independent Powers, levy units, set up beneficial Endeavors with other global powers, conduct Espionage missions, and ultimately play a large role in your international relations. There were so many ways past releases fell short of the franchise’s diplomatic potential, but here it all yet again feels elegant and smart.

Finish a game through culture, military, science or economy and you’ll begin to notice a meta-progression system with unlocks that permeate into future games. This is a challenging balance and a slippery slope that admittedly takes the franchise in a direction I personally find troublesome. However, it’s worth noting that the unlocks can be disabled for multiplayer and they do prove to be a fun reward. Momentos, for instance, are unlockable passive traits that give sizable boons to your efforts and can be selected during set-up. Each leader also has their own experience bar/levelling system that further rewards you for playing. Was this a necessary feature? Absolutely not. But for those who enjoy the game singleplayer and appreciate little goals to work towards, I can be convinced that it adds excitement.