As the upcoming sequel of the famous 4X games, Civilization 7, was teased by Firaxis Entertainment, many fans of the series have been cautiously optimistic about what innovation they will bring to the series. So far, each sequel in the series has been on-point with its gameplay changes. In addition to new innovations, fans also have opinions on which gameplay features should make a return in the upcoming sequel.
Some features that are present in older games have been absent in the newer games. Among the fanbase, there are voices campaigning for the return of these gameplay mechanics to the upcoming sequel. Here's what players most want to see return in Civ 7.
7 Heroes
Unique Units With Each Of Their Own Strengths
The inclusion of Heroes came with the Heroes & Legends pack included in Civilization 6: Babylon Pack. This feature created a whole new dimension in the game, as a player's effort in exploration is rewarded with the ability to summon these powerful heroes. Aside from their military prowess, each Hero also has their own unique ability. This can either be useful in times of peace, or can be an additional power that can enhance the civilization's efforts in wartime.
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Although these Heroes can be mythological in origin, the way they represent their cultures can enhance the player's immersion in the game. Therefore, bringing them back in Civilization 7 would increase players' excitement by a large margin.
6 World Congress Proposals
Freedom Of Choice To Propose World Congress Resolutions
In Civilization 6, World Congress proposals are determined randomly. That decision renders the exciting part of the game that involves politicking into a basic voting-lottery system. The World Congress mechanic in Civilization 5, on the other hand, is an important cornerstone of politics in the game. Each civilization will struggle to have the majority of the voting power in order to dictate bonuses, embargoes, and special projects that could result in huge bonuses.
In addition, the World Congress mechanic can also be a game-decider in certain victory types, including Diplomatic Victory, which involve little to none conflicts other than voting powers. It would be great to bring this back in Civ 7, revitalizing the World Congress process.
5 Monthly Challenges
Curated Challenges That The Game Fresh
The relatively new addition to Civilization 6, monthly challenges, should make a return in the upcoming sequel. Civ 6 enjoys a new breath of life with players trying to beat the challenge in their own way. By putting a player in an unfamiliar circumstance with a specific victory condition, they can explore the idea of playing other civilizations that might not be their usual choice.
The challenges can also involve community members by taking their ideas for difficult challenges into account to create more community and social engagement. This keeps game relevancy at an all-time high, and will help keep Civ 7 players engaged long after launch.
4 Custom Scenarios
Thematic Scenarios With Unique Gameplay Mechanics
Although present in most Civilization mainline games, the return of custom scenarios is not a guarantee in Civilization 7. Still, they should be included, because they can keep the game engaging with unique mechanics. These custom scenarios also encourage players to try out new playstyles, instead of sticking to those they are familiar with.
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Custom Scenarios have also been ever present in the modding scene of Civilization series. Many fans have taken steps to create their own narrative storytelling via these modded scenarios. Because this mechanic is so popular, it would be silly to leave it out of the upcoming installment.
3 City-States Unique Bonuses
Bringing Political Intrigues To The Next Level
City-states have enjoyed a relatively high standing in both Civilization 5 & 6, all because they give unique bonuses to civilizations that exert control over them. Having them keep their unique bonuses, or even having them grant bonuses with unique gameplay mechanics, can create another layer of excitement for these city-states for the upcoming sequel.
In the previous installments of the series, these city-states can play an integral part in certain victory conditions, such as the Science Victory. These denotes their importance within these games, and many fans will hope that these city-states can carry on their reliability to the upcoming sequel.
2 Manual Road Construction
Enable Players To Use Roads With More Flexibility
In Civilization 6, players were disappointed with the unfortunate removal of manual road building by workers. This mechanic enabled flexible gameplay. Olayers could decide whether to focus on military warmongering campaigns by building roads that lead to their neighbour's capital, or to strengthen their internal cities by connecting roads with each of their own territories.
Bringing back manual road construction would be one of the crucial things that Firaxis can implement in the upcoming sequel. This would ensure that players have flexibility, making the game more enjoyable.
1 Districts System
Create An Importance In City Planning
Civilization 6's innovation of district systems created an opportunity for players to plan their cities better. Instead of building cities randomly for the sake of territory expansion, players are now encouraged to be strategic with their city planning. This can decide whether the city will be ultimately productive or not in the long run.
The system also allows civilizations to have more identity by having their own unique districts. It will not come as a surprise if Firaxis decides to bring back the Districts System in the upcoming sequel, considering how well-recieved this feature was.
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
- Released
- February 11, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
