How “Civilization 7” Uses Ages to Welcome New Players

Jumping into the Civilization series for the first time can be quite overwhelming. Like other big 4X games, Civ tends to pile things on as the game progresses. Imagine, in a single turn during a peak Civilization match, you’re shuffling units around, keeping an eye on tech and production lines, crafting trade routes, delving into espionage, exploring every nook and cranny of the map, and juggling diplomacy with other world leaders. It’s definitely a lot to take in, especially if you’re new to this style of strategy game.

Older entries in the Civilization series have typically done a decent job of easing new players into their intricate mechanics. They’ve often done this through an intuitive “show, don’t tell” method, sprinkling tutorials throughout the gameplay instead of isolating them in a standalone mode. Civilization 7 embraces this philosophy too but ramps up the support significantly more than its predecessors. This time around, making the game accessible seems to be a core part of Civilization 7’s design, especially seen in its innovative Age system.

Civilization 7’s Age system splits the gameplay into distinct phases, making it easier for newcomers to digest. Throughout a lengthy Civilization match, which could span several real-world hours, it was previously rare to find a natural pause—a moment to reflect and regroup. Players often started with a strategy and had to stick with it the entire time, which could be daunting for new players. You needed to know your tech goals, unit deployments, and construction priorities from the get-go, all within a complex trial-and-error environment.

However, with Civilization 7’s new Age system, the gaming experience is much more approachable. The game distinctly breaks down into three extensive phases: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Even though seasoned players still sketch out their strategies right off the bat, new players can take things slowly without it being a disadvantage. The focus during each Age is on specific goals for that phase, rather than a single endgame objective. This keeps things from overwhelming new players and allows them to immerse themselves in achieving the Age-specific Legacy Path objectives gradually.

The mechanics and challenges ramp up progressively through the Ages. In the Antiquity age, attention stays on immediate surroundings and local leaders. As players adapt, new elements like Crises and Civics are gradually rolled out. Come the Exploration Age, the map broadens, inviting players to discover new territories, meet new characters, and dabble in mechanics like religion, all naturally refining and expanding the game’s scope.

Crucially, the Age system also allows for flexibility and error correction. Once an Age wraps up in Civilization 7, certain aspects, like Legacy Path objectives, refresh, allowing players to course correct if necessary. If things didn’t quite pan out as planned in Antiquity, the opening of the Exploration Age offers a new beginning and the chance to adjust tactics. This re-adjustment possibility is a lifeline for fresh players, particularly in the multiplayer arena, where decisions can span hours.

Civilization 7 aims to be pragmatically engaging, elegantly balancing complexity with accessibility, ensuring both new and experienced players find something to relish and master in each game they play.