Civilization VII

Civilization VII is a 4x turn-based strategy game where players will lead a civilization from its humble beginnings to a potential future of global dominance.  Build cities, manage resources, research technologies, and engage in diplomacy and warfare with other civilizations.  The game offers a deep and complex strategic experience, where your decisions shape the course of history.  Explore a vast and dynamic world, encounter diverse cultures and leaders, and leave your mark on the world stage. Whether you pursue scientific advancement, cultural dominance, or military conquest, Civilization VII offers a grand strategy experience that will challenge your leadership and decision-making skills.

• Short Sessions (30-60min): Let's get one thing straight: Civ games are notorious time sinks. One more turn, and suddenly it's 3 AM. But Civilization VII has taken steps to be more considerate of our limited availability. While the core gameplay loop of building cities, researching technologies, and waging war remains, the pacing feels… tighter. Games seem to progress a bit faster, and the new streamlined tech tree helps avoid analysis paralysis. You can technically play for short bursts. You can manage your cities, queue up research, and even engage in some light diplomacy. However, the nature of Civ is that you're constantly building towards something bigger. Stopping mid-game often leaves you feeling like you've left a pot on the stove. You'll likely spend more time planning your next moves than executing them in these short sessions. 

• Fulfillment: Here's where Civ VII struggles for the busy gamer. While you can make incremental progress in short sessions, the real satisfaction comes from seeing your civilization flourish over the long term. Those "one more turn" moments are still very much a thing, and it's hard to feel truly accomplished after just a quick dip. While the new Age Transition feature, which are separated in three stages, provides the feeling of accomplishment in shorter periods. Each Age can feel like a marathon, which is not necessarily a bad thing if you carve out the time for it. 

• Playability: Civ veterans may have an easier time relearning the new systems, but new players will need to go through all the tutorial to understand the majority of the game. The streamlined interface and clearer progression make Civ VII more accessible than previous entries. This is a plus for busy gamers who don't have hours to relearn complex systems. However, the sheer depth of the game can still be overwhelming, especially if you're trying to pick it up after a week or two away. 

• Time Commitment: This is the biggest hurdle. A single game of Civ VII can easily span dozens of hours, even on the faster settings. While you can save and reload, the feeling of consistent progress in short bursts is often lacking. This makes it difficult to fit into a busy schedule. Gamers have the option of customizing their campaign for a quick game, but what’s the fun in that? I’ve completed my first campaign in under a week, but I sprinted through it to get a feel of the full length of a campaign. I’m currently in my second campaign and I just transitioned into the third and final Modern Age which took me two weeks on and off while finding time after my toddler’s bedtime. 

Verdict: 

Civilization VII is a fantastic game, no doubt. The strategic depth, the satisfaction of building an empire from the ground up, it's all there. However, it's still a Civ game. If you're a busy gamer with limited time, be prepared to dedicate significant blocks of time to truly enjoy it. Short sessions can be enjoyable for managing your empire, but they're unlikely to provide the same sense of fulfillment as longer play sessions. It's a great game for those rare occasions when you have a few uninterrupted hours, but it's not ideal for quick gaming fixes. Consider yourself warned. You will lose sleep.