Civ 7 Named the Most Wanted PC Game of 2025

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 engaging new mechanics designed to improve campaign completion rates. Let's delve into the details.

PC Gamer's "Most Wanted" Event Highlights Civ VII

The December 6th PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, a nearly three-hour livestream, showcased the top 25 most exciting games in development for 2025. The rankings were determined by a vote from "The Council," a panel of over 70 developers, content creators, and PC Gamer editors. Civ VII secured the coveted top spot. Other notable titles included Doom: The Dark Ages (2nd), Monster Hunter Wilds (3rd), and Slay the Spire 2 (4th). The event also featured new content for other games.

Civilization VII's launch is slated for February 11, 2025, across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

New "Ages" Mechanic Enhances Campaign Engagement

Addressing low campaign completion rates in previous Civilization titles, Firaxis Games' Creative Director, Ed Beach, introduced the "Ages" mechanic during a PC Gamer interview. This system divides a single campaign into three distinct eras: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Upon the conclusion of each Age, players can transition to a historically or geographically linked civilization, mirroring the rise and fall of real-world empires.

The transition isn't random; connections must exist. For example, the Roman Empire might transition to the French Empire, potentially with the Norman Empire serving as a bridge. Leaders persist across Ages, maintaining player connection to their empire and rivals. An "overbuild" feature allows constructing new buildings atop existing ones, while Wonders and certain structures remain.

This innovative system allows players to experience multiple civilizations within a single playthrough, offering diverse challenges and maintaining a consistent narrative arc centered around a familiar leader.