Civ 7 Named the Most Wanted PC Game of 2025

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! The game's Creative Director shed light on innovative mechanics designed to enhance campaign engagement. Read on to discover more about this exciting reveal and the upcoming features in Civ VII.

The Road to Release: Civ VII's Rising Popularity

On December 6th, the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, hosted by PC Gamer, announced Civilization VII as the top contender for the most anticipated game of 2025. This prestigious accolade was determined by a vote from "The Council," a panel of over 70 leading developers, content creators, and PC Gamer editors. The nearly three-hour livestream showcased the top 25 games slated for release next year, including new trailers and updates for other titles such as Let’s Build a Dungeon and Drivers of the Apocalypse.

Doom: The Dark Ages and Monster Hunter Wilds secured the second and third positions, respectively, while Slay the Spire 2 claimed the fourth spot. 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.

Civilization VII is set for a simultaneous launch on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025.

A New Approach to Campaign Completion: The "Ages" Mechanic

"Our data showed many players never finished a Civilization game," Beach explained. "So, we focused on reducing micromanagement and restructuring the game to tackle this directly."

Civ VII's "Ages" mechanic divides each campaign into three distinct chapters: Antiquity Age, Exploration Age, and Modern Age. Upon the conclusion of each 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 instance, the Roman Empire could transition to the French Empire, potentially with the Norman Empire serving as a bridge. Leaders remain consistent across Ages, maintaining player connection to their empire and rivals.

The "overbuild" feature allows construction atop existing structures, although Wonders and certain buildings remain unchanged. This system offers players a dynamic experience, allowing them to manage diverse civilizations within a single playthrough, encompassing cultural, military, diplomatic, and economic aspects, all while maintaining a strong connection to their chosen leader.