Civilization VII introduces one of the most revolutionary changes in the franchise’s history – the Three-Age System and the ability to transform your civilization throughout your playthrough. Our guide will walk you through unlocking every Civ in Civilization VII. Gone are the days of being locked into a single civilization from start to finish. 

Instead, players can now evolve their empire across three distinct periods:

• Antiquity Age (Early Game)
• Exploration Age (Mid-Game)
• Modern Age (Late Game)

Each age features exclusive elements, including unique resources, civics, and technologies specific to that historical period. Perhaps most excitingly, players can now select different civilizations for each age, creating fascinating historical “what-if” scenarios and allowing for deeply strategic gameplay combinations.

In another significant change, leaders are no longer permanently tied to specific civilizations. When starting a game, you’ll choose both your leader and civilization separately. However, this freedom comes with certain restrictions – civilizations must be unlocked through various means, including:

• Historical connections
• Geographical relevance
• Specific gameplay achievements
• Leader selection

Exploration Age Unlocks

Here’s how to unlock each civilization for the Exploration Age

Abbasid

• Civilization: Play as Egypt (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Persia (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Ibn Battuta
• Gameplay: Improve three Camels

Chola

• Play as Khmer (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Maurya (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Ashoka, World Conqueror
• Leader: Play as Ashoka, World Renouncer
• Gameplay: Have three Settlements with City Centers adjacent to a Coastal tile. Cities only adjacent to Lakes do not count.

Hawai’i

• Civilization: Play as Maya (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Mississippian (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as José Rizal
• Gameplay: Have two Settlements on an Island (a landmass with a maximum of 15 tiles)

Inca

• Civilization: Play as Maya (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Mississippian (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Pachacuti
• Gameplay: Have three Settlements with at least three Mountains each

Majapahit

• Civilization: Play as Khmer (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Maurya (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Trung Tac
• Gameplay: Improve three Pearls
• Gameplay: Have three Naval Trade Routes

Ming

• Civilization: Play as Han (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Confucius
• Improve three Silk
• Gameplay: Have eight Resources slotted in one Settlement

Mongolia

• Civilization: Play as Han (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Persia (Antiquity Age)
• Gameplay: Have three Siege units
• Gameplay: Improve three Horses

Norman

• Civilization: Play as Greece (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Rome (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Charlemagne
• Gameplay: Improve three Iron
• Gameplay: Build five Walls

Shawnee

• Civilization: Play as Mississippian (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Tecumseh

Songhai

• Civilization: Play as Aksum (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Egypt (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Amina
• Gameplay: Have three Settlements with at least three Navigable River tiles each

Spain

• Civilization: Play as Rome (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Greece (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play as Isabella
• Gameplay: Reconquer a lost Settlement

Modern Age Unlocks

The path to Modern Age civilizations often requires progression through specific Exploration Age powers

America

• Civilization: Play as Rome (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Norman (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Shawnee (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Benjamin Franklin
• Leader: Play as Harriet Tubman
• Leader: Play as Tecumseh
• Gameplay: Have three Distant Land Settlements in Plains or Grasslands

Buganda

• Civilization: Play as Abbasid (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Songhai (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Amina
• Gameplay: Have two Settlements with their City Center adjacent to a Lake

French Empire

• Civilization: Play as Rome (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Norman (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Lafayette
• Leader: Play as Napoleon, Emperor
• Leader: Play as Napoleon, Revolutionary
• Gameplay: Improve three Wine

Meiji Japan

• Civilization: Play as Hawaii (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Majapahit (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Himiko
• Leader: Play as Himiko, High Shaman
• Gameplay: Improve three Tea

Mexico

• Civilization: Play as Maya (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Inca (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Shawnee (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Spain (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Isabella
• Leader: Play as Tecumseh
• Gameplay: Have three Distant Land Settlements in Desert or Tropical

Mughal

• Civilization: Play as Persia (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Abbasid (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Chola (Exploration Age)
• Gameplay: Improve three Salt
• Gameplay: Have at least four Trade Routes with unique Civilizations

Prussia

• Civilization: Play as Rome (Antiquity Age)
• Leader: Play Friedrich
• Leader: Play Friedrich, Baroque

• Gameplay: Have three Army Commanders
• Gameplay: Improve three Niter

Qing

• Civilization: Play as Han (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Ming (Exploration Age)
• Civilization: Play as Mongolia (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Confucius
• Gameplay: Improve three Jade

Russia

• Civilization: Play as Greece (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Mongolia (Exploration Age)
• Leader: Play as Catherine
• Gameplay: Have three Settlements on Tundra

Siam

• Civilization: Play as Khmer (Antiquity Age)
• Civilization: Play as Chola (Exploration Age)
• Gameplay: Have four Temples
• Gameplay: Improve three Ivory

The Three-Age System in Civilization VII adds an entirely new layer of strategy to your game planning. When choosing your civilization progression, consider:

1. Victory Condition Synergy: Select civilizations that complement your chosen victory path across all ages.
2. Resource Requirements: Plan your early-game expansion to secure resources needed for unlocking future civilizations.
3. Leader Abilities: Some leaders can unlock specific civilization options, potentially opening up alternative progression paths.
4. Geographic Prerequisites: Many civilization unlocks require specific terrain types or settlement patterns – plan your city placement accordingly.

By understanding these unlock requirements and planning ahead, you can craft a powerful civilization progression that evolves meaningfully through each age while maintaining strong gameplay advantages aligned with your strategy.

This new unlock system encourages players to experiment with different civilizations and playstyles while adding an extra layer of progression to the game. Whether you’re focusing on specific resources, expanding to particular terrains, or following historical paths, each unlock provides a meaningful goal to pursue during your campaigns.

Remember that these requirements can be met through various playthroughs – you don’t need to achieve everything in a single game. This system rewards both historical authenticity and strategic gameplay, making each civilization unlock feel like a meaningful achievement in your Civilization VII journey.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Firaxis Games

Release Date: 2025-02-11

Epic Games Store, mac os, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier's Civilization VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!