Summary
Civilization 7is on its way, though nobody knows exactly when. Firaxis announced the game last year, and while it’s unlikely that it will come out in 2024, fans are hopeful that they will see something before the end of the year. 2024 is also a surprisingly busy year forCiv-like 4X games, withAra: History UntoldandMilleniaalso in the pipeline.
Both games are potential rivals toCivilization 7and are attempting to add new spins on the genre. This puts the nextCivunder even more pressure to innovate since it needs to improve uponCivilization 6and compete with two other games for player’s time and money. With that in mind, one area that could help setCivilization 7apart is expanding the game into outer space.
Civilization 7 Could Feature Sci-Fi Scenarios
Civilizationhas gone to space before.Sid Meier’s Alpha Centaurimay have lacked theCivilizationbranding, but it was aCivgame in all the ways that mattered. Firaxis later gave it a spiritual sequel in the form of2014’sCivilization: Beyond Earth. The latter game did not quite live up to its predecessor’s legacy, butAlpha Centauriproved the idea has merit. This doesn’t necessarily meanCivilization 7should beBeyond Earth 2, though Firaxis could choose to incorporate something like it as an alternate scenario.
Having a historical game and a full sci-fi game in one package might tip over the line into feature creep. However, it does not have to be a complete standalone experience. Past games already featured scenarios depicting specific historical events or periods, andCiv 7could do the same with a space-themed scenario. Perhaps a scenario could depict nations competing to colonize Mars or even a planet in another solar system. This scenario could even feature alien civilizations for additional variety.
The new game could also feature an alien-related mode. Perhaps it might feature random alien encounters, where UFOs have a chance to steal units or grant a civilization-free technology. Later in the game, nations can attempt to study the aliens to make contact, steal their technology, or defend against them.
These ideas aren’t as far out there as they sound.Civilization 6’s Red Death multiplayer scenario took place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and featured Aliens, Zombies, and Mutants among the playable factions.Civ 6already has a Zombie Defense mode, while the Secret Societies mode includes vampires, alchemists, and Cthulhu worshippers.
Expanding Civilization 7’s Endgame
Another option might be incorporating more space content intoCivilization 6’s core experience. Inthe mainlineCivilizationgames, winning a Science Victory, called Space Race untilCiv 4, required sending an expedition to colonize the Alpha Centauri system. While players need to perform preliminary tasks like launching satellites and landing people on the moon, there isn’t a space-focused layer toCivilizationgames.
Civilization 7could expand its late-game by giving nations more options for interacting with space in the new game’s equivalent ofCiv 6’s Information and Future Eras. New technologies could allow nations to build bases on the Moon or Mars. This would also open new areas for exploration and settlement, which generally take a back seat by that point in the game.
This would arguably mean pushing further into the future thanCivgames seem to be comfortable with. All games sinceCivilization 3end in 2050, withCiv 6’s Future Era very much intended to serve as the endgame. Space colonization, even if it’s limited to the Solar System, would necessitateexpandingCivilization 7’s Future Erato bring it in line with others.
On the other hand, it would be breaking new ground and not just for theCivilizationseries. While plenty of sci-fi games depict humanity as an interstellar civilization, very few depict the initial phase of settling the solar system. A space-focused Era could be a great addition to the new game andhelpCiv 7stand out from its predecessorsand potential rivals.
