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You know, I've been playing Civilization games since the college days, and when I first heard about the era-switching mechanic in Civilization VII, I honestly thought it sounded like a terrible idea. Why would I want to abandon my carefully built Roman empire just when things were getting interesting? But after spending about 40 hours with the game across multiple playthroughs, I've completely changed my tune—this might be the most brilliant design decision Firaxis has made in years. Let me walk you through how to master this new system because honestly, it completely transforms how you approach the entire game.
The biggest shift from previous games—and the one that initially made me skeptical—is how you progress through eras. Remember those marathon sessions where you'd stick with the same civilization from ancient times to the space race? Well, throw that concept out the window. Civilization VII breaks your campaign into three distinct eras—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern—each functioning almost as separate games with their own civilizations, buildings, wonders, and even unique crisis events. The real kicker? You're forced to switch to a completely different civilization when you advance to the Exploration Age, and then again when entering the Modern Age. At first, this felt like having the rug pulled out from under me right when I was hitting my stride, but I've come to see it as the game's way of keeping every moment fresh and strategically demanding.
Here's how I've learned to approach the Antiquity era—think of it as laying foundations for civilizations you haven't even met yet. I typically focus on two primary objectives during these initial 80-100 turns: establishing strategic outposts rather than sprawling empires, and deliberately positioning my cities to benefit whoever might inherit them later. For example, if I'm playing as Rome, I'll avoid building too many Roman-specific wonders that won't transfer well, instead focusing on infrastructure that any civilization would appreciate—basic roads, farms, and maybe a strategic military unit or two to handle the inevitable barbarian crises. The key is to view your first civilization as a temporary custodian rather than a permanent ruler. I made the mistake in my first playthrough of building the Colosseum as Rome, only to watch it become nearly useless when I switched to England in the Exploration era—what a waste of 20 turns that was!
Transitioning to the Exploration Age is where things get really interesting, and honestly, this is where I've had the most satisfying strategic moments. The game gives you several civilization options based on your progress in Antiquity, and this choice is absolutely critical. I've found that picking a civilization that complements your previous era's strengths creates incredible momentum. One of my most successful games involved transitioning from Egypt to Portugal—the agricultural and wonder-building foundation I'd established with Egypt gave Portugal an incredible economic head start for their naval expansion. But here's a pro tip: don't just look at the obvious benefits. Check what crisis events are coming in the Exploration era and choose a civilization that's well-equipped to handle them. During one playthrough, I knew a religious conflict crisis was imminent, so I switched to Spain specifically for their conversion bonuses, and it saved me what would have been a disastrous era.
The Modern era feels like the grand finale where all your previous decisions come together—or fall apart spectacularly. By this point, you're working with the legacy of two previous civilizations, and the strategic depth is incredible. I've developed what I call the "inheritance assessment" method during the first 15 turns of the Modern era. Immediately pause and evaluate what you've actually inherited from your predecessors—sometimes you'll discover hidden gems like a perfectly positioned airport from your Exploration civilization or a research lab that's about to complete. In one memorable game, I discovered my previous civilization had nearly completed the Space Program wonder, allowing me to achieve a science victory in record time. But beware—you also inherit any problems, like ongoing wars or environmental crises. I once switched to America only to find myself immediately dealing with three different fronts of a war my British empire had started—not exactly the peaceful technological advancement I'd planned for.
Throughout all these transitions, I've learned that the milestones system is your true guide. Unlike previous Civilization games where you could meander toward victory conditions, Civilization VII's progression milestones practically shout at you about what's coming next. Pay close attention to these—they'll tell you exactly when an era transition is approaching and what you need to prepare. In my experience, you typically have about 5-8 turns of warning before being forced to switch civilizations, which is just enough time to position your empire for its next caretaker. I can't stress this enough—don't ignore those milestone notifications like I did in my first two playthroughs. They're not just suggestions; they're essential roadmaps for successful era transitions.
What's surprised me most is how this system has completely changed my relationship with the late game. In Civilization VI, I'd often lose interest around the industrial era because everything started feeling samey. But in Civilization VII, each era brings genuine novelty—you're essentially learning to play three different mini-campaigns that connect in fascinating ways. My personal preference has shifted toward civilizations that set up well for successors rather than those with powerful early-game bonuses. Honestly, I'd take a mediocre Antiquity civilization that transitions well over a powerful one that leaves nothing for the next era.
After multiple playthroughs, I'm convinced this era-switching mechanic is here to stay, and it's made Civilization VII the most strategically fresh entry in the series since Civilization V introduced hexes. It forces you to think beyond immediate gains and consider how your decisions will echo through virtual centuries. The ultimate guide to mastering this system? Stop thinking of yourself as leading a single civilization through history and start seeing yourself as the guiding hand of human civilization itself, shepherding it through its most transformative periods. It's a perspective shift that's made me fall in love with Civilization all over again, despite my initial doubts.
