Civ 7 Can and Should Pave The Way For a New Map Type

Arriving almost a decade after the release of the series’ sixth entry, the recent reveal trailer for Firaxis Games’ Civilization 7 came as welcome news for gamers who’d been awaiting the strategy series’ latest sequel. Though details about the gameplay in Civilization 7 remain scarce, players can safely assume that the long-awaited title will likely follow the same winning formula as its predecessors. But even though the overall gameplay loop in Civilization 7 is unlikely to stray too far from what’s come before, Firaxis could still introduce innovation to the franchise by adding a series-first globe map to the game.

The in-game map wasn’t revealed during the Summer Game Fest trailer for Civilization 7, which took viewers on a time-hopping tour of the different eras they’ll experience throughout the game, but the layout of maps will likely follow the same format as in previous titles. While players can typically choose the size of the maps they play on in Civilization titles, the in-game world behaves like a cylinder where the east-west edges wrap around to meet each other. Including a proper globe-shaped map type in Civilization 7 would not only mark an evolution of this familiar formula but also open the door to exciting new gameplay possibilities.

Adding a Globe Map to Civilization 7 Is a Logical Progression for the Series

Although the Civilization series has seen numerous innovations over the years, with each new entry and expansion introducing new gameplay elements, the structure of the in-game maps has remained relatively consistent. Regardless of which map players choose, they’re limited to a rectangular world where the northern and southern borders are barricaded by ice. Adding a spherical map type to the game would eliminate these icy polar barriers, allowing for full traversal of the map and making the world of Civilization 7 look and feel more realistic.

Just as adding new gameplay systems like natural disasters in the Civilization 6: Gathering Storm expansion helped the in-game world more closely resemble the real one, the same would hold true for a globe map type. And while getting Civilization’s iconic hex titles to wrap neatly around a sphere could require some creative workarounds on Firaxis’ part, adding a globe-shaped map to the game would be a logical progression for the series. Adding this new map type wouldn’t just be an aesthetic improvement, though, it would also create new gameplay options.

Removing Civilization 7’s Map Boundaries Would Open the Door to New Possibilities

Adding a globe map type to the mix would let Firaxis introduce some exciting new gameplay possibilities for Civilization 7. One of the biggest benefits of this more realistic map would be the ability to have every major civilization present on the map at once. This would let players create truly global in-game alliances, drawing on the support of friendly civilizations from all corners of the world. Conversely, players seeking a military victory would be able to unleash chaos on a previously unimaginable scale.

Civilization 7 Could Feature the Series’ Most Reactive World Yet

It’s not only the various civilizations that could exist simultaneously on this new map type, it could also allow for in-game events that affect the entire world. The reactive events in Civilization 6 already let players’ actions impact the game world, and Civilization 7 could expand on this. From refining mechanics like the coastal flooding introduced with Gathering Storm to adding new events like solar flares that could bring down power systems worldwide, Firaxis would have plenty of options.

By introducing a globe map type to Civilization 7, Firaxis could take a big leap forward in terms of having the iconic strategy series more closely resemble the real world. If backed up by systems that allowed for a truly global interconnection of the game’s core mechanics, from war and politics to research and exploration, it could even make Civilization 7 the series’ most realistic and reactive entry yet.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

Franchise

Sid Meier’s Civilization

Released

2025-00-00

Genre(s)

Grand Strategy , Turn-Based Strategy , 4X

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

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