Debuting all the way back in 1991, theCivilizationfranchise has come a long way in the last 32 years. Originally a game designed solely with PC players in mind,theCivilizationserieshas slowly infiltrated the console market, and though it’s taken quite a while for a mainline entry to launch on a console platform,Civilization 6is now available on just about every device possible. When it comes to the upcomingCivilization 7, it’s fairly likely that it’ll drop on consoles right alongside the PC launch.
But in puttingCivilization 7on consoles straight away, Firaxis might run into a unique problem. While many PC players will have already jumped into at least one pastCivilizationentry, many console players will have never touched the series, and ifFiraxis wants to avoid anotherMarvel’s Midnight Sunssituationthen it’s going to need to ensure that it’s welcoming to newcomers. In this department, it might not hold a candle to the 2008 spinoffCivilization Revolution.
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Civilization 7 Might Not Be as Accessible as Civilization Revolution
Having been around for over three decades now, it’s only natural that theCivilizationfranchise has gotten more and more complex with every new entry. On one hand, this is exactly what fans want from a long-runninggrand strategy series likeCivilization. Though the classic baseCivformula has always been addictive, certain improvements and additions over the years have kept it one of the most engaging grand strategy series out there. By introducing even more systems to the game,Civilization 7will continue to reward long-time fans for taking the time to learn the mechanics and master them.
On the other hand, adding more systems to an already complex game can make it a tad overwhelming for a new player.Civilization 6is already juggling a plethora of complex systems, ranging from technology to population growth to culture spread to religion to combat, and that’s already a lot for a newcomer to wrap their head around. IfCivilization 7continues to add new mechanics, which it likely will, then it might end up putting newcomers off entirely.
In this way,Civilization 7might not hold a candle toCivilization Revolution. Coming in betweenCivilization 4and5,Civilization Revolutionwas designed from the ground up to be an accessible entry point for the franchise, specifically targeted around the console market, where strategy games were few and far between. As such,Civilization Revolutionwas a pared-back version of the usual series formula, though it still had plenty of complex systems for new players to get to grips with.Civ Revhad a much faster pace, and a much smaller scale than its PC mainline counterparts, making each match a little more digestible for a more casual audience.
WithCivilization 7being the next major mainline release for the franchise, presumably launching primarily on PC with console ports coming as well, it’s highly likely that it’ll pull no punches when it comes to content, nor should it.Civilization 7should not only be the culmination of the entire series to that point, but should also bring some exciting new features to the game. However, it also needs to put a lot of effort into designing the experience for newcomers.Civ 7shouldn’t just throw players into the deep end, but give newcomers a lengthy, clear tutorial that incorporates all the core mechanics into an actual match, as opposed to just a long set of tutorial missions.Anno 1800is a perfect point of inspirationfor this, with its own tutorial being seamlessly blended into the campaign mode.
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