Sid Meier’s Civilization VII lets you tell your nation’s story through narrative events

You can’t spell “history” without “story,” and there’s a story that’s waiting to be told in every game of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. The latest entry to Firaxis and 2K Games’ long-running 4X strategy series has numerous changes to help revitalize tried-and-tested mechanics. For one thing, players now have to select leaders and civilizations separately. Likewise, leaders and civilizations have their own Narrative Events that unfold turn by turn in every playthrough.

The Sid Meier’s Civilization VII narrative events are similar to quest chains. There are several options that you can select, which then lead to the next event or mission. Many of these reward you with bonuses, such as additional Gold, Culture, Influence, Science, and even free Military Units. Perhaps more importantly, they also enrich the experience as they’re tied to a particular leader’s background or a civilization’s cultural theme.

One of the best examples is José Rizal, a playable leader who is considered a national hero of the Philippines. As a Filipino myself, I thoroughly enjoyed trying out Rizal’s quirks; as a prolific writer whose works include Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo, Rizal has in-game perks that give him additional Narrative Events and even bigger bonuses upon completing these missions.

One such challenge called “A Political Quandary” had me depose a despotic leader through various decisions in a quest chain. This is a reference to the history of the Philippines, specifically when we toppled a dictatorship through the People Power movement, as well as the times when we resisted the colonial rule of imperialist nations like Spain and the United States.

Another challenge, “The Heart of His People,” exemplified how one should navigate diversity. After all, the Philippines is home to over 110 million citizens—a country predominantly composed of adherents to traditional Roman Catholic beliefs as well as a burgeoning Muslim population, all doing their best to get along in spite of religious differences. This, too, is seen in our cultural makeup given that we have thousands of dialects and numerous ethnic groups all across the archipelago. It also alludes to Rizal’s views on Filipino representation and harmony among various cultures, ideas that were further shaped as he traveled and studied abroad in the late 1800s.

Other leaders also have their own stories to tell with their respective narrative events. Xerxes I, for instance, can undertake a quest to build magnificent palaces or demonstrate his reverence for Ahura Mazda, all to showcase the opulence and riches of the ancient Achaemenid Empire. Niccolo Machiavelli, meanwhile, has tasks where he has to deal with an advisor and promote pragmatic thought. These keep with the theme of Machiavellianism—that the ends justify the means—and Niccolo’s own background as a diplomat for the city of Florence. Even Catherine the Great has her own missions where she can focus on trade and architectural refinements, mirroring her achievements that made Russia the center of arts and culture during her time.

But leaders aren’t the only ones with unique Narrative Events in Sid Meier’s Civilization VII; civilizations do as well. Whenever players reach a new age—i.e. from the Antiquity Age to the Exploration Age and finally to the Modern Age—they need to choose another civilization to guide through the time period. In doing so, players get to see another emergent story taking shape.

For instance, if you’re playing as Persia during the Antiquity Age, then you might receive a quest about a young soldier who wishes to join the Immortals, a venerable cadre of elite fighters. You then need to defeat several opponents with an Immortals unit as you proceed with the quest.

Then, if you decide to play as Majapahit during the Exploration Age, you might learn about the Palapa Oath, for which you’ll need to find three additional settlements to complete. The Palapa Oath, otherwise known as the Sumpah Palapa, is attributed to Gajah Mada, a prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, who wanted to unite the great islands of Southeast Asia. With each settler you send out across the map, you are essentially following in Gajah Mada’s footsteps.

Then, if you enter the Modern Age playing as Japan, you’ll likely get notified about samurai who are out of work and growing concerns about the naturalist movement supplanting romanticism. These moments pertain to the Meiji Restoration period in Japan—a time of tumultuous upheaval when the country rapidly industrialized, all while grappling with long-standing traditions and other socio-cultural aspects from the era of the shogunate.

While these Narrative Events are but a small part of each campaign, they nonetheless tell you about the dilemmas faced individually by historical figures and pivotal moments collectively experienced by citizens of a nation. As mentioned earlier, you can’t spell “history” without “story,” which is why these Narrative Events are akin to pages and chapters in the book of our shared humanity. These are the ideas, concepts, and tales you learn and understand as you lead civilizations through the ages.

Those who would like to experience the Narrative Events and 4X strategy gameplay should pick up Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, which is available now on the Epic Games Store. You may also purchase the Crossroads of the World Collection, which gives you access to two additional leaders (Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar), four new civilizations (Carthage, Nepal, Bulgaria, and Great Britain), and several natural wonders. The Deluxe Edition, meanwhile, includes the base game, the Crossroads of the World Collection, the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack, additional leader personas for Xerxes and Friedrich, and other goodies.