Civilization VII: The Most Anticipated PC Game of 2025

Civilization VII has been crowned the most anticipated PC game of 2025 by PC Gamer's "Most Wanted" event! This accolade follows the unveiling of new game mechanics designed to enhance the campaign experience. Read on for details from the PC Gaming Show and a closer look at Civ VII's innovative features.

Topping the Charts

On December 6th, PC Gamer's PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted revealed Civilization VII as the number one most anticipated title of 2025, outshining 24 other exciting upcoming releases. The rankings were determined by a vote from "The Council," a panel of over 70 developers, content creators, and PC Gamer editors. The nearly three-hour livestream also showcased trailers and updates for other highly anticipated games, including Let’s Build a Dungeon and Drivers of the Apocalypse.

Strong Competition

Doom: The Dark Ages and Monster Hunter Wilds secured the second and third spots, respectively. Slay the Spire 2 rounded out the top four. Other notable games featured 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 its trailer was not shown.

Launching February 11, 2025

Civilization VII will launch simultaneously on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025.

Addressing Campaign Completion with the "Ages" Mechanic

In a December 6th PC Gamer interview, Civ VII's Creative Director, Ed Beach, discussed a key new mechanic: "Ages." This feature directly addresses Firaxis's data showing a significant number of Civ VI players never completing the campaign. Beach explained the goal was to reduce micromanagement and restructure the game to encourage full campaign completion.

The "Ages" system divides a single playthrough into three distinct chapters: Antiquity Age, Exploration Age, and Modern Age. Upon completing an Age, players can transition to a historically or geographically related civilization, mirroring the rise and fall of real-world empires. This transition isn't random; connections must exist between civilizations. For example, the Roman Empire could transition to the French Empire, possibly with the Norman Empire serving as a bridge.

Leader Persistence and Overbuilding

Leaders persist across all Ages, maintaining a sense of continuity and rivalry. The "overbuild" feature allows players to construct new buildings atop existing ones from previous Ages, while Wonders and certain structures remain throughout the playthrough.

A New Era of Gameplay

These innovative features allow players to experience multiple civilizations within a single playthrough, offering fresh perspectives on cultural, military, diplomatic, and economic strategies while maintaining a connection to their chosen leader.