It has been nearly eight years since the release ofCivilization 6.Hence,Civilization 7is more than due. To put things into perspective,Civilization 5was released in 2010 andCivilization 6had a 2016 release date. That’s only a six-year gap between the two titles. Now, with gameslikeHumankindintroducing lots of new tweaks and gimmicks to the 4X formula, it’s high time for another Sid Meier game to join the fray.
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After all, theCivilizationfranchise is not just due for another title, but is also in need of some genre-defining innovation in its formula. Something as dramatic as the hex tiles (introduced inCivilization 5) is certainly in order. One can only hope thatCivilization 7will introduce some of these handy and fresh new features, assuming there will be aCivilization 7.
7More Powerful Navies & Naval Interactions
Most of the battles inCivlization 6take place on land becausenaval warfarelacks intricacy or the overall strategic value of land units. But in reality, navies tend to be a lot more important in warfare than whatCivilization 6implies. Such is the case as naval technology keeps improving up until the modern age.
InCivilization 4,for example, players can employ Privateers as some kind of proxy armada in case they want to harass without provoking an all-out war. Apart from that, navies can and should be used to blockade coastal cities as some kind of prelude to war (similar to what a certain nation in Asia is doing right now).
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This can cause heavy economic damage without civilian or human casualties.Civilization 7having that kind of naval combat layer will certainly expand the playstyles.
6Hex Tile & Border Trading Or Agreements
Being able to use territory as some kind of payment has always been a staple in human history. Grabbing a rival nation’s territory through economic hegemony (usually by burying them in crippling debt) is one of the most “peaceful” ways to “invade” a country (without actually invading them). That’s why something like tile or land exchanges inCivilization 7would further provide players with more methods of victory or aggression.
In other contexts, being able to trade territories can be a way to ensure peace, especially in the face of rebellions or past transgressions. In any case,Civilization 6really should have had a function like this given how commonplace or beneficial it is in the current geopolitics of the real world.
5More Viable “Build Tall” Playstyles
In the recentCivilizationgamesand expansions, the usual playstyle is to expand wide and large until a player’s civilization is painting most of the map. While there are peaceful and diplomatic ways to do this, managing that large of an empire can often be tedious. A playstyle like building tall (having a small but exponentially powerful territory) is something that needs to come back.
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As it is right now inCivilization 6, going wide or imperialism gets way too many benefits. Some players simply want the Vatican solitude instead of the Roman Empire expansionism. The next game would do well to give equal or equitable incentives for building tall.
4Parallel Or Separate Production Queues
One of the most daunting parts of starting from scratch or building a new cityinCivilization 6.There’s only one production queue per city, meaning players will have to choose between units or buildings, and even then, they can’t mass-produce no matter how big the civilization. It’s always one thing at a time per city.
If they want to shake up the formula a bit, then having parallel production queues per city or district-based production queue would make the game less of a turn-fest. Players would be able to do more per turn. At the very least, a separate production queue for industrial buildings, civilian buildings, or military units would do well to add more digestible complexities to the game.
3Bridges, Canals, & Tunnels, Or Just River Navigation
Rivers and other bodies of water inland have always been underutilized in a lot ofCivilizationgames andCivilization 6is no exception. By logic, some naval units should be able to traverse through rivers. That would add another layer of strategy to the game’s warfare or trading.
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Also, having traversable rivers would go well with being able to build important structures such as bridges or even canals. This would shake up not just militaries butalso diplomacyand trading. If they want, players can even gatekeep some bridges or canals, on top of blockading ports and coastal cities with their navies in order to control territorial economies or resources.
2More Intricate Diplomatic Actions
Diplomacy seems to have taken a step backward inCivilization 6or has been simplified too much to where players might find it hard to stop their allies from going overkill with enemies who suddenly want peace. Other than that, some civilizations also hold a deep hatred for something the players did back in the BC era. At times, AI and diplomacy inCivilization 6can be unreasonable.
That’s whyCivilization 7might want to make these AI more rational or sensible. In other aspects, being able to put pressure onother civilizationswithout the need for violence or religion should also be an option through some diplomatic maneuvers or economic acumen. Proxy wars should also work as an awesome option, especially for the modern ages.
For this to happen though,Civilization 7will need to have a better AI— one that isn’t too stubborn and will back down or surrender once they realize inevitable defeat.
1Language As A Game Mechanic
Religionand cultureare great as victory conditions in their own way, but they tend to lack nuance compared to other territory-based victory types. Adding language as a game mechanic could very well add more twists and diverse options for attaining these kinds of victories.
Language as a game mechanic inCivilization 7could also be an encompassing factor in international relationships and diplomacy; it could also make alliances or rivalries more personal and organic. Adding that game mechanic shouldn’t be too difficult; it could work as a technology to be researched before or after “Writing” or it could also work like Religion. Regardless, the possibilities are interesting and endless inCivilization 7.
Civilization 6is available now on iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
