Summary
Ever since the announcement that Firaxis Games had begun work onCivilization 7,fans of the franchise have speculated about what’s next for the strategy series. While it’s safe to assume that there will be a slew ofnew features inCivilization 7whenever the game arrives, to keep the franchise feeling fresh, Firaxis needs to ensure that one long-overdue quality-of-life feature makes the final cut. Although the slow, methodical gameplay is what has kept some fans coming back for over 30 years,Civilization 7needs to finally give players the option to enjoy the game at their own pace by adding an accelerated time feature.
The idea of speeding up the pace of gameplay may sound like sacrilege to hardcore fans of the franchise, but it could helpCivilization 7find a wider audience than ever. Unlike other changes that could be implemented to speed up play, such as altering build times, Firaxis could add an option for accelerating time in-game without negatively impacting series purists. Adding an accelerated time feature would not only improveaccessibility inCivilization 7by eliminating some of the tedium of the turn-based title, but it would also give franchise veterans the ability to quickly try out new world domination strategies.
RELATED:Civilization 7 is in Development
Letting Players Speed Up Play in Civilization 7 Would Be a Win for Accessibility
WhileCivilization 6lets players adjust their preferred speed from the Game Setup menu, moment-to-moment gameplay can still feel glacially slow for new players. This system allows for some flexibility in deciding how long a game will take but lacks nuance, slashing the number of turns in exchange for speedier gameplay. Letting players accelerate time in-game without cutting down the number of turns could speed up time-consuming tasks likebuilding powerful weapons inCivilizationwithout forcing gamers into an artificially abbreviated experience.
By letting players accelerate time at any point during gameplay rather than selecting a speed when starting a new scenario, Firaxis could makeCivilization 7far more accessible to casual gamers and those new to the franchise. Being able to play through astandard 500 turns ofCivilizationwithout spending a significant amount of time waiting for each turn to resolve could make new players feel more comfortable exploring the many different paths to victory. This ability to quickly try out new strategies could be a win for returning players, too.
Veteran Players Could Speed Up Civilization 7 to Test New Strategies
While casual players would likely be the biggest beneficiaries of speedier games ofCivilization 7, series veterans could also take advantage of the ability to accelerate time. Determiningwhich civilizations and leaders are the bestfor an individual’s play style can be a lengthy process, sometimes leading to multiple hours of play only to discover that a particular leader isn’t a good fit. With the ability to accelerate time gamers could quickly play through a full round ofCivilization 7to get a good overview of a particular civilization’s strengths and weaknesses before committing to a longer session.
Once a player finds a civilization that suits them, the accelerated time feature would let them speed through the small stuff to have more time to focus on growing their empire. ForCivilization 7players who play with more than the standard number of turns, this could shave a significant amount of time off these longer sessions. When waiting for a construction or unit to finish, leaving players with little to do other than occasionally click the Next Turn button, this could be particularly useful.
Gamers may still have to wait a while until morenews aboutCivilization 7is released, but hopefully when that news arrives it includes the announcement of an accelerated time feature. The addition of this long-overdue quality-of-life feature would not only benefit casual and hardcore players alike but also keep the series feeling fresh for years to come.
