Civilization 7: Not the Easiest Start? Try This Instead!

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Strategy games like Civilization, Age of Empires, Stellaris, or Crusader Kings are not as easy to jump into and play casually compared to games from other genres such as Call of Duty or Marvel Rivals. You can’t simply start a game, play for half an hour, log out, and feel fully content like you would after a quick match. Strategy games are designed for extended gameplay and demand more from the player, which is a key characteristic that sets them apart from many other games available today.

In the realm of strategy games, particularly the 4X genre (short for “Explore, Expand, Exterminate, and Exploit), Civilization is a renowned title. To succeed in each game of Civ, players must skillfully manage all four fundamental aspects simultaneously – each aspect brimming with intricate mechanics and systems. This can be quite challenging for newcomers, and it appears that Civilization 7 has taken this into account. Civilization 7 is widely considered the most user-friendly mainline installment in the series yet, although there’s an earlier spinoff that might still be more suitable for new players.

Civilization Revolution Might Be The Franchise’s Most Accessible Entry Still

Civilization 7 Goes Out of Its Way to Welcome Newcomers

Upon launching “Civilization 7” for the first time, players won’t see a separate tutorial mode; instead, their initial game serves as an extended tutorial. Frequent pop-ups appear throughout the game, explaining each new mechanic as it is introduced. This is only one aspect of how “Civilization 7” endeavors to make newcomers feel welcome.

In Civilization 7, the redesigned three-Age structure effectively divides the game’s extended playtime into smaller, manageable sections, preventing players from feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of its interwoven systems. This is complemented by the Legacy Path system, which offers distinct objectives for each Age, guiding players towards one of the game’s four primary victory conditions in a progressive manner.

Civilization Revolution Offers a Completely Streamlined Experience

Although Civilization 7 is indeed more user-friendly than several of its past versions, it fails to outperform Civilization Revolution, a spinoff from 2008 that was specifically tailored to introduce console gamers to the fundamental mechanics of the primarily PC-based Civilization series. Initially launched on PS3 and Xbox 360, Civilization Revolution maintains the same general gameplay rhythm as its mainline counterparts, but with noticeable simplifications in terms of game mechanics.

You can still enjoy playing Civilization Revolution on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, thanks to the backwards compatibility feature.

In Civilization Revolution, nearly every aspect of the classic Civ formula was simplified and refined. City management is minimal, as players don’t need to construct buildings on individual plots. Managing units is effortless, as they can be grouped into armies. During gameplay, advisors frequently appear to suggest strategies or caution against certain actions. Diplomacy is reduced to a few basic options such as declaring war or purchasing technology with gold. Since Civilization Revolution was launched in 2008, it lacks features introduced later in games like City-States and religion, which were not part of its design.

To put it simply, the way Civilization Revolution handles accessibility can be seen as both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, this game is incredibly user-friendly for those new to the 4X genre or the Civilization series. However, it may not fully capture the core gameplay dynamics that longtime fans of the mainline series are accustomed to. In essence, it serves as an excellent introduction to the franchise, although it might not cover all the intricacies that have been added over the years as the series has grown more complex.

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2025-02-19 16:05