Civilization VII: Top PC Game of 2025 and New Campaign Mechanics
Civilization VII has been crowned the most anticipated PC game of 2025 by PC Gamer's "Most Wanted" event. This accolade follows the reveal of innovative gameplay mechanics designed to enhance campaign engagement. Let's delve into the details.
Claiming the Top Spot
On December 6th, the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, hosted by PC Gamer, unveiled its top 25 most exciting upcoming games. Civ VII secured the number one position, based on votes from The Council, a panel of over 70 industry professionals. The nearly three-hour livestream also showcased trailers and updates for other highly anticipated titles.
Doom: The Dark Ages and Monster Hunter Wilds followed closely behind in second and third place, respectively. Other notable games on the list include Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, The Thing: Remastered, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Interestingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong was absent from the rankings.
Civilization VII's launch is scheduled for February 11th, 2025, across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Revolutionizing Campaigns with the "Ages" Mechanic
Addressing player feedback regarding incomplete campaigns in Civ VI, Creative Director Ed Beach introduced the "Ages" mechanic during a PC Gamer interview. This new system divides each playthrough into three distinct eras: Antiquity Age, Exploration Age, and Modern Age. The innovative aspect? Players can transition to a historically or geographically linked civilization at the end of each Age, mirroring the rise and fall of real-world empires.
This transition isn't random; connections must exist. For instance, the Roman Empire might seamlessly transition to the French Empire, potentially with the Norman Empire bridging the gap. Your leader remains consistent across Ages, maintaining a familiar presence throughout your campaign. The "overbuild" feature allows for constructing new buildings atop existing ones, while Wonders and certain structures persist across eras.
This dynamic system offers players a unique opportunity to experience multiple civilizations within a single playthrough, adding layers of complexity to cultural, military, diplomatic, and economic strategies, all while maintaining a connection to a chosen leader.
