Sid Meier’s Civilization 7features a mix-and-match system that lets you choose which civilization you want to play as during the three distinct Ages. Not all of these civilizations will be available after selecting an initial civilization during game setup, though. Depending on which Civ a player chooses forthe Civ 7 Antiquity Age, options for the Exploration and Modern Ages are limited to some extent;only a few become automatically available based on the geographic or historical threadthat ties them to the player’s initial choice (i.e. the Han, Ming, and Qing path).
However, you can actually select any Civ you want in the later Ages by completing specific tasks or challenges during gameplay. You can view the various Unlock conditions during gameplay on the Player Unlocks screen, which provides a full breakdown of each civilization’s unlock requirements. These range from constructing different types of buildings or improvements to having a set number of Army commanders in a given Age. Overall,each unlock condition can be met while playing as any leader or Civ, giving you the ability to create your own unique journey inCivilization 7.
What Every Civilization Automatically Unlocks in Civ 7
Choosing Civs Opens Up Certain Geographic And Historical Options
During game setup, the player’s initial choice of civilization and leader will automatically unlock a handful of Exploration and Modern Age options. These are typically connected by historical or geographic threads and have a built-in synergy, and arethe “natural” civilization choices designed to give you a sense of continuityacross the Ages. These are not the only options however, and all civilizations are technically viable for any leader, depending on strategy. Unlocking civilizations through gameplay gives you some flexibility with your strategies, as things won’t always go according to plan.
Here’s a breakdown of what each Antiquity Age civilization unlocks for Exploration and Modern Age options:
Norman, Spain
America, French Empire, Prussia
Similarly, when you reach the Exploration Age, the civilization you choose will unlock further options for the Modern Age. These are alsobased on geographic or historical connections, and do not require any in-game choices or decisions to be made:
What Every Leader Automatically Unlocks
Leaders Can Unlock Civilizations Connected To Their History
A player’s choice of leader will automatically unlock options for civilizations across the Ages, also based on geographic or historical ties. However, just because a leader has a clear connection with a particular civilization doesn’t mean that civilization is necessarily the best strategic choice. For example, while it’s obvious that Benjamin Franklin and Harriet Tubman are automatically able to lead America, Franklin might benefit from Russia’s Cultural Scientific affinity in the Modern Age if you are pursuing a Science Victory.
Note thatnot all leaders will automatically unlock civilization choices, such as Augustus or Charlemagne, likely because their associated historical Civs are found in the Antiquity Age. Here is a breakdown of which civilizations each leader automatically unlocks in the Exploration and Modern Ages:
How To Unlock Every Civilization During Gameplay
Gameplay Decisions Unlock Exploration & Modern Civs
Aside from selecting specific civilizations and following their natural progression across the Ages, players can complete specific requirements during gameplay that will unlock future options. These range in complexity; some conditions being very basic and ending up unlocking unintentionally most of the time. Others are more obscure and will need to bepart of your larger game plan. These unlocks allow for a more unconventional approach to Civ progression that doesn’t necessarily have to follow a historical or geographic trajectory.
Civilization 7 Features A New Gameplay Mode For Shorter Games
Civilization 7 features a new Single Age gameplay mode that will allow for shorter games, but comes with a more limited set of options for a Victory.
If playing as Tecumseh, for example,it’s possible to start the Antiquity Age with Maurya and end up with a victory as Russia, even though there is no obvious or automatic path to do so. This requires you to either unlock and play as Mongolia for an Exploration Age Civ by having three siege units or improving three horse tiles, or unlock Russia by having three Settlements located on Tundra tiles. These unlock conditions require some planning and forethought, but also give you a sense that your in-game decisions have an impact on gameplay options.
Here’s a breakdown of how to unlock every Exploration Age civilization during gameplay:
Improve three Camels.
Chola
Have three Settlements with City Centers adjacent to a Coastal tile. Cities only adjacent to Lakes do not count.
Hawai’i
Have two Settlements on an Island (a landmass with a maximum of 15 tiles).
Improve three Pearls.
Ming
Improve three Silk OR have eight Resources slotted in one Settlement.
Have three Siege units OR improve three Horses.
Improve three Iron OR build five Walls.
Songhai
Have three Settlements with at least three Navigable River tiles each.
Shawnee
Improve three Hides OR be Suzerain of two City-States.
Finally, some Modern Age civilizations can be unlocked during either the Antiquity or Exploration Ages, while others are specific to the Exploration Age, such as America and Mexico’s in-game requirements focused on theDistant Lands inCiv 7. In-gameunlocks during the Exploration Age will benefit those who may have switched strategiesafter the Antiquity Age, allowing a pivot toward a more appropriate or strategic Modern Age civilization that might not have been part of the initial plan.
Civ 7’s Score Victory Is Based On A New Core Gameplay Feature
Civilization 7’s Score Victory is based on Legacy Points instead of Civilization 6’s system, and will require completing specific objectives.
For example, if you need to take a more militaristic approach while playing as Spain in the Exploration Age and want to pursue aMilitary Victory inCiv 7, Prussia might be a better choice and will need to be unlocked by either having three Army Commanders or improving three Niter tiles. This sort ofpivot might be necessary when playing on higher difficulty settingswhere you aren’t able to follow a master plan down to a T. There are limitations with this approach, however, and you might run into issues due to terrain or available Resources.
Further, higher difficulties make every turn matter that much more, and spending valuable resources on unlock requirements can be costly. Either way, you have the following options to unlock each Modern Age civilization during the Exploration Age:
Have three Distant Land Settlements in either Plains or Grasslands.
Buganda
Have two Settlements with their City Center adjacent to a Lake.
Have three Distant Land Settlements in Desert or Tropical terrain.
Mughal
Improve three Salt OR have at least four Trade Routes with unique civilizations.
Have three Army Commanders OR improve three Niter.
Siam
Have four Temples OR improve three Ivory.
Overall,Civilization 7offers multiple options when it comes to civilization choices across the Ages, with the caveat that it might take a little work during gameplay depending on the specific path you choose. The above tables should help orient you as you consider their larger strategy across the Ages. As you become more familiar with the various strengths and weaknesses of each civilization, you may use the in-game unlocks to experiment with new strategies from one Age to the next and incorporate less obvious but possibly better-suited Civ choices into your strategy.
