Sid Meier's Civilization VII has soared to the top of PC gamers' wishlists, securing the title of the Most Wanted game of 2025. The game's Creative Director, Ed Beach, has shared insights into new mechanics that promise to make the gameplay more engaging and fulfilling. Dive into the details of PC Gamer's event and what to expect from the eagerly awaited Civ 7.
Civ 7 Gaining Momentum Ahead of its 2025 Release
Bagged the Most Wanted Game for 2025
The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, hosted by PC Gamer on December 6, unveiled that Civilization VII has captured the coveted top spot in the list of the most anticipated games for 2025. This event spotlighted the top 25 exciting projects slated for release next year.
During an engaging three-hour livestream, PC Gamer highlighted the top upcoming titles for 2025, determined by votes from The Council—a prestigious panel comprising over 70 celebrated developers, content creators, and PC Gamer's own editors. Alongside the rankings, the event also showcased new trailers and content for other anticipated games such as Let’s Build a Dungeon and Drivers of the Apocalypse.
Claiming the second spot was Doom: The Dark Ages, with Monster Hunter Wilds coming in third. The indie hit Slay the Spire 2 secured the fourth position. Other notable entries on the list included Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, The Thing: Remastered, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Interestingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong was absent from the list and did not feature a trailer during the event.
Civilization VII is set to launch simultaneously on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025.
Civ 7 Game Mechanic Helps Players Finish Campaign
In a revealing interview with PC Gamer on December 6, Civ 7’s Creative Director, Ed Beach, discussed a novel campaign mechanic designed to enhance player engagement and completion rates. According to data from Firaxis Games on Civilization VI, a significant number of players did not complete their campaigns, a challenge that the team aimed to address in the new installment.
"We had a lot of data that people would play Civilization games and they would never get all the way to the end. They just wouldn’t finish them. And so we wanted to do whatever we could—whether it was reducing micromanagement, restructuring the game—to really address that problem directly," Beach stated.
To tackle this, Civilization VII introduces the 'Ages' system, dividing a single campaign into three distinct chapters: the Antiquity Age, the Exploration Age, and the Modern Age. This feature allows players to transition between civilizations at the end of each Age, mirroring the rise and fall of empires throughout history.
However, the choice of the next civilization is not arbitrary. It must be historically or geographically linked to the previous one. For example, transitioning from the Roman Empire to the French Empire would involve an intermediary like the Norman Empire.
Your chosen leader remains consistent across all Ages, ensuring a cohesive narrative and strategic continuity. As stated on the Civ 7 website, "Leaders persist across all Ages, ensuring you always have a sense of who is part of your empire, and who are your rivals."
For structures inherited from previous civilizations, the 'overbuild' feature allows players to construct new buildings atop existing ones when transitioning to a new Age. However, certain Wonders and some buildings will remain untouched throughout the campaign.
This innovative approach not only facilitates the completion of campaigns but also offers players a chance to experience multiple civilizations within a single playthrough, enriching the gameplay with diverse cultural, military, diplomatic, and economic strategies while maintaining a personal connection to their chosen leader.
