CIVI-LITE-ZATION

Lighter and leaner, CIVILIZATION VII sets its sights on assimilating a new audience

- By Robert Zak

Founded in the pre-SVGA age of gaming antiquity, Civilization's randomised yet celebratory take on human history has stood the test of time. Over three decades on, you can still put me down in front of any of the games in the series, and I will spend half my waking hours for a week straight guiding my people through the ages via war, diplomacy, exploration, culture-bombing, and plonking down World Wonders before my rivals.

Over its first several entries, the series evolved to better encapsulate the vibrancy of human history in a turn-based strategy format. But in recent outings, it's become more about rejigging rather than revolutionising that cavemen-to-cosmos saga.

Yes, Civilization V's de-stacked units made warfare more tactical, while Civ VI spread cities across multiple tiles to allow for more focused, thoughtful city management. But in areas like diplomacy, religion, and warfare, any changes have offered alternative ways to make fun these phenomena of human history rather than pursuing some goal of The Ultimate Civ Experience. This is reflected in the fact that both Civilization V and VI enjoy huge player numbers to this day; V is tight and balanced, VI is big, bold, and systems-heavy, both are brilliant.

Civilization VII goes for something different again – more a series offshoot than a Civilization VI sequel. Its most radical ideas certainly offer an interesting way to play Civilization, though as things stand it doesn't feel like the best way to play. It's the most streamlined and pared-back the series has been in years, which certainly helps with accessibility and pacing – particularly in multiplayer – but may leave some yearning for the depth and diversity of its predecessors.

Let's begin with the broad strokes, and the boldest idea that