Highlights
- Civilization 7 is still in its early stages of development, leaving a gap in the 4X Strategy market for new options.
- Total War: Warhammer 3 provides a solid alternative to Civilization with its fantasy-oriented, story-driven approach and strong focus on diplomacy.
- Warhammer 3 offers unique features such as flying formations and reworked skill trees that can keep strategy fans occupied while waiting for the release of Civilization 7.
The wait for Civilization 7 continues to stretch on, and with Firaxis' most anticipated project yet still in its early developmental stages, there is a gap in the 4X Strategy market begging to be filled. Civilization 6 has a cemented status as one of the far and away most popular options in the genre, and the developer continues to tweak the award-winning title's experience with leader packs and scenario updates, making it a premier choice for players. However, there's only so much sprucing up that can quench the thirst for a new installment, and the category is holding its breath for a new wave of content. There are plenty of alternatives for players to turn to while waiting for Civilization 7 news, and Total War: Warhammer 3 is a perfect stand-in game.
Although officially announced back in February of this year, news about Civilization 7 has been practically nonexistent in the months since, with Firaxis preferring a tight-lipped approach to its development. It seems likely not to expect any updates until 2024, and with the emergence of multiple blockbuster games like Starfield in the months leading up to the Game of The Year celebrations, the 4X Strategy category seems lacking for fresh options. However, some existing titles can fill the void while fans wait for the next earthshaking entry, and Total War: Warhammer 3 has a few features that make it a solid alternative to the Civilization franchise.
Total War: Warhammer 3's Attention to Detail Rivals Civilization
While Civilization is focused on progression through humanity's eras from ancient times and bronze tools to the Information Era and nukes, Total War: Warhammer 3 is fantasy-oriented, filled with different mythical creatures and a story-driven approach never previously employed in the franchise. Games like Civilization and Rise of Nations typically don't offer much in terms of story, letting players focus on smooth progressions and building out cities in the quest to craft the most powerful nation, but Warhammer 3 employs a unique route, turning the traditional dreary tutorials into a story mode where gamers ease into the title's features.
Warhammer 2 neglected to include any tutorial, instead thrusting the player base directly into the thick of proceedings, so Warhammer 3's story-based guidance was much appreciated. Civilization has often faced criticism for its diplomatic and negotiation features despite its focus on diplomacy as a victory condition, and Civilization 6 attempted to rectify this dynamic with the Great Negotiators expansion pack. Unfortunately, the changes did little to improve the diplomatic experience, with the leaders from the expansion pack instead receiving boosts tailored for Domination victories and negligible improvements in negotiations.
In contrast, diplomacy is one of Warhammer 3's strengths, with quick trade deals and a provision to automatically add enough money to ensure acceptance instead of negotiating tirelessly. Additionally, declaring war on a nation in Civilization is not a pleasant ordeal—no matter how logically justified the action may be—and can often attract denouncements from leaders. Warhammer 3's AI is more reasonable, allowing players to warn trespassing armies before attacking without repercussions. Creative Assembly crafted the title with a hyper-focus on the workings of war, so the level of detail in war mechanics was no surprise for fans.
Perhaps the most alluring element in Warhammer 3 lies in its flying formations, and they're totally different from any units in the Civilization franchise. In Warhammer 2, flying units could only remain airborne, but the latest installment allows movement for most users between the ground and the skies. This dynamic is especially handy for sieges, which are a huge staple of Warhammer 3 from minor settlement battles to full-scale city warfare and the reworked skill tree is also a tantalizing prospect. Civilization 7 may still be years away, but Warhammer 3 offers enough variety to keep the strategy fan base occupied till then.
Civilization 7 is in development.