Stellaris: Most Anticipated PC

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! This accolade follows the reveal of engaging new mechanics designed to enhance the campaign experience. Read on to discover more about this exciting announcement and the innovative features coming to Civ VII.

A Triumph at the PC Gaming Show

On December 6th, the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, hosted by PC Gamer, unveiled the top 25 most anticipated games of 2025, with Civ VII securing the coveted number one spot. This ranking was determined by a vote from The Council, a panel of over 70 influential developers, content creators, and PC Gamer editors. The nearly three-hour livestream also showcased new content for other upcoming titles, including Let’s Build a Dungeon and Drivers of the Apocalypse.

Doom: The Dark Ages and Monster Hunter Wilds followed closely behind, securing second and third place, respectively. Other notable titles featured included Slay the Spire 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, The Thing: Remastered, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Interestingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong was absent from the list.

Civilization VII is slated for simultaneous release on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025.

A Revolutionary Campaign Mechanic: The Ages

In a PC Gamer interview on December 6th, Civ VII's Creative Director, Ed Beach, discussed a groundbreaking new campaign mechanic: Ages. This feature directly addresses data from Civ VI showing a significant number of players failing to complete campaigns.

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

The Ages system divides a single playthrough into three distinct chapters: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Upon the conclusion of each Age, players can transition to a historically and geographically linked civilization, mirroring the rise and fall of real-world empires.

This transition isn't random; connections must exist. For instance, the Roman Empire might seamlessly transition to the French Empire, perhaps with the Norman Empire serving as a bridge. Your leader persists throughout, maintaining a consistent presence and rivalry. The "overbuild" feature allows constructing new buildings atop existing ones, while Wonders and certain structures remain unchanged.

This innovative system offers players a unique opportunity to experience multiple civilizations within a single playthrough, managing diverse cultural, military, diplomatic, and economic challenges while maintaining a connection to a familiar leader.