With Sid Meier's Civilization VII just a week away from release, the review embargo has officially been lifted. Many gaming outlets have shared their impressions, and we’ve picked out the key takeaways.

The standout new feature in Civilization VII that most reviewers praised is the Era System, which was absent in previous installments. The core idea is that civilizations evolve and change over time rather than remaining static.

This clear division of eras solves several gameplay issues from previous games, such as overly long matches and one civilization snowballing out of control. Each of the three eras feels like a distinct game with its own unique technologies and victory strategies.

Another well-received feature is the ability to mix and match leaders with different civilizations. This adds a new layer of strategic depth, allowing players to combine the strengths of different leaders and civs—though not always in historically accurate ways.

Reviewers also highlighted improved city placement mechanics, a greater emphasis on resource management, better district construction, and a more streamlined UI. However, some critics felt the interface was over-simplified.

On the downside, many pointed out that maps feel too small, which diminishes the sense of scale that older Civilization titles had. Technical issues such as bugs and FPS drops when opening menus were also reported. Another notable complaint was that matches sometimes end abruptly, leaving players confused about the final outcome.

A game like Civilization is so massive and replayable that forming a definitive opinion takes years, after the community has fully explored every possible strategy and combination. However, for a first impression, the early reviews provide a solid overview.

Main image: alphacoders.com

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