Pixel Sundays: Why Civilization VII Could Be the Ultimate Strategy Game

Today, we are talking about a franchise that has been shaping the gaming world for over 30 years. We’re referring to none other than the Civilization franchise. This is arguably one of the greatest strategy game franchises of all time.

Summary

In this week’s Pixel Sundays article, we’re diving into the Civilization franchise. So if you’re a fan of strategy games, you’re definitely in the right place. In just a few days, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 will be released, and we’ll have a lot to discuss. The game will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. But let’s start in 1991, when the very first Civilization game was launched.

The Origins of Civilization – The Birth of a Strategy Legend

I just mentioned that we’re starting in 1991, but that’s not entirely true. To truly understand the idea behind Civilization, we need to go back a few more years. In 1988, Sid Meier, co-founder of MicroProse, released his last game, “F-19 Stealth Fighter,” a flight simulator. Before that, he worked on several flight simulators and military strategy games. However, he wanted a new creative challenge and, inspired by “SimCity” and “Populous,” decided to develop a city-building and management game.

Together with Bruce Shelly, a former board game designer from Avalon Hill, Sid Meier first developed “Railroad Tycoon” in 1990. This game required players to manage various elements, leading to complex decision-making. But Sid Meier wanted more and came up with the idea: Why not manage an entire civilization? And thus, the foundation for Civilization was laid.

The first version of Civilization was originally designed as a real-time simulation. Players had to assign zones for population growth, similar to “SimCity.” However, during testing, Meier realized that a turn-based system was a better fit, allowing for more control and strategic depth. This led to the integration of features like city management, military units, and a technology tree. Thanks to these elements, the game is non-linear and can be played in various strategic styles.

The focus wasn’t on historical accuracy but rather on fun gameplay. To achieve this, Meier removed elements like natural disasters and pandemics, as they disrupted the game flow. During testing, he continually added and removed features, ensuring the best possible gaming experience.

The name Civilization was chosen after development was completed. Although there was already a board game from 1980 with the same name, Sid Meier didn’t see a direct connection to its mechanics. However, to avoid legal conflicts, MicroProse secured the rights to the name from Avalon Hill. Using Sid Meier’s name in the title was a marketing strategy to distinguish the game from MicroProse’s previous military simulations and to leverage Meier’s reputation as a designer. In September 1991, Civilization was released.

The Evolution of the Franchise – From Pixel Art to Modern Strategy Masterpiece

The first Civilization featured simple pixel graphics, but of course, both the graphics and gameplay evolved significantly over the years. “Civilization II” introduced isometric graphics, allowing for a much more detailed visual representation.

With “Civilization III” (2001) and “Civilization IV” (2005), the graphics became even more refined, with 3D elements introduced in Civ IV. Then, in 2010, “Civilization V” came along with a completely redesigned graphics engine featuring hexagonal tiles, which improved strategic planning. “Civilization VI” (2016) continued this trend with even more detailed and vibrant visuals.

But with each new game, gameplay elements also evolved. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest additions in each installment.

• Culture: In Civilization III, the culture mechanic was introduced. This allowed you to develop and strengthen your civilization beyond research through cultural influence.

• Religion: With Civilization IV, religion became a central element in the game. From that point on, you could establish your own religion, spread it, and use it for diplomatic advantages.

• Diplomacy and Espionage: Civilization V significantly expanded the diplomacy system and introduced city-states, which provided additional strategic options. The “Gods & Kings” DLC then added spies, allowing players to gather information and sabotage rival civilizations.

• City Development: Civilization VI introduced an improved city system. Players could now build districts on separate tiles, allowing them to construct new buildings over time.

Of course, the AI has been continuously improved throughout the series. The user interface has also become more intuitive over time. The developers have always taken community feedback into account and made adjustments accordingly.

The Big Leap: What’s New in Civilization VII?

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is officially releasing on February 11, 2025, for PC. However, if you pre-order the Deluxe or Founders Edition, you can start playing today. Civilization VII comes with a host of new features compared to its predecessor, and we’re here to explore them.

One of the most significant changes is the introduction of three clearly defined eras: Ancient, Exploration, and Modern. Each era acts as its own chapter and ends with a global crisis that affects all players. This requires you to continuously adapt your strategy and prepare for new challenges.

In Civilization VII, unlike previous titles, you must choose three leaders and civilizations that can be combined independently. Each leader represents one of the three eras, and together with their civilization, they create unique synergies. For example, you could play as Caesar Augustus leading the Mongols. This flexibility allows you to creatively combine special units and unique technologies throughout the game.

City-building has also been revamped. Now, there are “unique districts,” allowing players to construct specialized city sections with specific bonuses. The new “Overbuild Feature” enables players to upgrade or replace existing structures to make more efficient use of urban space. Specialists now play a bigger role, improving certain buildings and increasing their production.

There is also a completely new diplomatic resource called Influence. You can accumulate Influence and use it for various diplomatic actions, such as joint research projects or sanctions against other empires. This makes relationships with other civilizations more strategic.

Wars have been slightly adjusted, and commanders now play a crucial role. Commanders can combine multiple units into a single army, making troop movements more efficient and enabling strategic attacks. Over time, commanders can level up and specialize, gaining different combat bonuses.

The AI has been further enhanced. As a result, the game is now more challenging and realistic at higher difficulty levels. The AI reacts more intelligently to player actions and makes better strategic decisions than in previous installments.

New game modes add even more variety. One example is “Crisis Mode,” where players face historical events with global consequences. You must choose different approaches to handle these scenarios effectively.

What Makes Civilization So Unique?

Civilization allows you to experience the development of an entire civilization—or, in the latest installment, three civilizations—from ancient times to the modern era. You can relive historical events or create entirely fictional scenarios. Along the way, you research technologies and reach cultural milestones, providing a deep immersion into world history.

In the game, you can adopt various playstyles. There are multiple victory conditions. For example, you can go all-in on war and military, conquering all other nations. Alternatively, you can spread your religion across every country in the world to achieve victory, or win through science or culture. This allows you to take a different approach in every run. The unique advantages of leaders also play a crucial role in choosing your strategy.

Why is Civilization so addictive?

The Civilization series has captivated players since its launch in 1991. One of the reasons is the “Just one more turn!” effect. Since the game is turn-based and many runs can’t be finished in one session, you always want to keep going, thinking, just one more turn. Anyone who has played Civ knows that late-game turns take a long time because there’s a lot to manage and many units to move. You just want to achieve your next goal, whether it’s capturing a city, completing a building, or finishing research. There are many elements that keep you engaged, and before you know it, that “one more turn” turns into half the night as new goals keep appearing.

Another reason for its addictive nature is that you can play as historical figures, each with their own special abilities. You naturally want to adapt to your character’s strengths, which leads you to explore new mechanics you might not have used before. Since it takes time to master new mechanics, hours fly by, and suddenly, oops, it’s 3 AM again. The variety of characters makes the game highly replayable and keeps it from getting boring—especially in multiplayer with friends (who may soon turn into rivals). Have you ever lost track of time while playing Civ? It happened to me in Civ V. Share your experiences in the comments!

Civilization offers a balanced mix of strategic planning and random events. The map is randomly generated, so you might not have important resources nearby and may need to trade with friends. A solid strategy is essential to win. Unexpected events like surprise wars or natural disasters (introduced in Civilization VI) can completely change your plans, ensuring constant challenges.

Why Civilization is one of the greatest strategy game series of all time

Let’s sum up what makes the Civ series so great. You guide your civilization through thousands of years, building and developing it. You need to research, establish a culture, spread religion, and much more, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in world history.

Every game of Civilization is unique. You have random starting locations and different resources. You can customize your opponents or let them be randomly assigned. The many different leaders and victory conditions add variety and require different approaches.

Despite its complexity, the game is very user-friendly and great for beginners. The tutorial gradually introduces new players to the game’s mechanics, so you don’t get overwhelmed by a long tutorial at the start but can also explore things on your own.

And the feeling of finally winning a game after hours of play and thousands of turns is simply incredible. The civilization you guided for hundreds of turns has finally completed all research or triumphed over all others in battle—an unforgettable experience everyone should have at least once.

Conclusion – Will Civilization VII be the best Civ ever?

Civilization VII takes a big step forward. The new three-era system, the flexible leader/land combinations, and expanded city-building mechanics bring a fresh take on the classic formula. In addition, an improved AI, deeper strategic mechanics, and brand-new diplomatic mechanics with the new Influence resource add even more depth.

But the question remains: will Civilization VII be the best Civ ever? That’s something everyone has to decide for themselves. The changes in the new installment are definitely exciting, but players need to embrace the major updates. Compared to its predecessor, the gameplay has changed significantly, which you may or may not like—you’ll have to try it yourself. But one thing is certain: the “Just one more turn!” effect is back. So, prepare for some very short nights with Civilization VII.

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