Civilization 7 Should Go Big on One Building Type

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As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent in the strategic world of Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise, I can confidently say that the wonder mechanic in Civilization 6 left me somewhat dismayed. Having witnessed the grandeur and strategic advantages wonders brought to earlier installments, seeing them take a backseat in Civ 6 was a bitter pill to swallow.

2016 saw Firaxis’ Civilization 6 storm into the gaming world with record-breaking performances, and as we inch closer to its February 2025 release, anticipation among fans is at an all-time high for enhancements. With such a revered position in the strategy game community, surpassing Civilization 6 will be no walk in the park; it’s one of the best strategy games out there!

In the upcoming game, Civilization 7, there’s one aspect that will receive close examination – the wonder building mechanic. Historically, wonders were highly sought-after buildings in the Civilization series due to their gameplay benefits. However, in the transition from previous games like Civilization 6, the wonder building format seemed to decline while other elements improved. To enhance the strategy 4X experience, Firaxis should aim to refine and upgrade wonders to match their past glory.

Civilization 7’s Wonder Mechanic is in Need of an Overhaul

Wonders in strategy games have always been designed to give players a considerable edge over their competitors. The mechanic’s limited implementation (there can only be one of each wonder at any point during a playthrough) makes for exciting races between players to complete the building first and reap its benefits. Sid Meier’s Civilization has employed this strategy through the years, but Civilization 6 represented a change in status quo where wonders slid to the backburner in terms of build priority. That led to tangible dissatisfaction, and Civilization 7 needs to get on the right track to preserve the build type’s legacy.

As a devoted player of Civilization 6, I can’t help but notice that the source of my frequent frustration with the game’s wonder system often stems from the same area that seems to cause trouble for many other aspects of Firaxis’ creation – the AI. While I understand there are inherent limitations to AI-driven gameplay, a strategy title as sophisticated as Civilization 6 requires a certain level of consistency and predictability.

Civilization 6’s AI Lack of Wonder-Building Strategy Threw a Wrench in its Experience

As a fan, I’d put it like this: In many games of Civilization 6, the AI seems to effortlessly construct wonders in desolate desert territories where their construction benefits are minimal, leaving less strategic players at a disadvantage because they’re often robbed of these valuable wonders. It’s impressive, but sometimes frustrating, since the production cost and reward trade-off in this scenario is usually too steep for any sane player to attempt!

In some cases, AI-created structures, built seemingly without a practical purpose, don’t provide enough benefits to warrant their construction. For instance, buildings like Stonehenge in Civilization 6, often criticized as one of the least beneficial wonders, might remain undeveloped throughout a gameplay session. However, there are exceptions such as the Pyramids, Forbidden City, and Kilwa Kisiwani, which are highly valued. Some structures can provide an edge in specific scenarios, but many players choose to ignore this feature altogether, focusing instead on their chosen victory condition.

Firaxis Has to Make Wonders Pocket-Friendly Again in Civilization 7

In order to resolve these persistent problems, Firaxis needs to delve more profoundly into the artificial intelligence structure within Civilization 7, enhancing decision-making capabilities for a wider range of considerations. Wonders in the game are designed to bolster a player’s selected strategy, such as Religion, Diplomacy, or any pathway to victory. As a result, an AI player should focus on constructing buildings that significantly influence its chosen route to success, rather than prioritizing wonders that don’t align with the strategy. Civilization 7 could learn from Age of Empires 2 in this aspect, as the AI becomes more intelligent, adapting to opponents’ strategies and making strategic moves to thwart them.

As a dedicated fan, I feel it’s crucial for the developer to enhance the influence of wonders on the gameplay experience in Civilization 7. While game-breaking wonders should definitely not return, the limited number of useful wonders in Civilization 6 was disappointing and something Firaxis needs to address in the next installment. One potential solution is reducing the construction cost of Wonders, a decision that may have deterred players due to an unfavorable cost-reward ratio in the past. In Civilization 7, each wonder should offer a reasonable chance at influencing a victory, or they risk becoming irrelevant once more.

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2024-12-10 22:56