Gaming

Civilization VII review: Reinventing the wheel to make it better

Play how you want

Published

February 3, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Civilization VII is the latest entry in a strategy game series that has existed for decades. As with every entry, the new game reinvents the wheel by introducing new systems and streamlining old ones from the past. If you’re a fan of the series or are curious about all the commotion surrounding this game (especially after the announcement of Jose Rizal as playable leader), Civilization VII is an absolute must-play, and this is why.

What’s new in Civilization VII?

The Civilization franchise is all about building a chosen civilization from the ancient times all the way to the modern period. It’s all about rewriting history to favor yours. However, unlike previous games, Civilization VII is not a straight shot to the finish.

Traditionally, the end of each era flows seamlessly into the next, creating a flowing tapestry across one game. Civilization VII breaks the game into three distinct eras: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modernity. These ages do not flow into one another, though they build each other up. The end of each age comes with its own report. You can take each era as its own game, ending only with victory conditions during the Modern Age.

At the start of a game, you pick a leader, which won’t change after every age. However, you also pick a Civ separately, which does change after an age. This allows for a lot of mixing and matching, depending on your playstyle.

Of course, you can always keep it historical. For example, you can pick three historical dynasties from China through a whole game. You can, however, go in different directions. One of my Jose Rizal runs, for instance, had the Filipino hero lead Native Americans for the first two ages before transitioning into the French Empire for the final one.

Are the Ages a good system?

A common reaction to the new Ages is comparing the system to Humankind, a strategy game that also got inspiration from the Civilization franchise. Personally, it’s hardly a comparison. The new system parses down an absurdly long game into bite-sized chunks I can take one at a time.

Each age also feels like its own game. They all focus on different things. Longtime fans of the franchise will likely find the most familiarity with the Antiquity Age. The goal is to build your Civ in all the traditional ways: founding starting settlements, researching the most tech, and building the biggest army.

Everything changes starting the Exploration Age, though. The game really wants you to engage as a colonial power.

For context, the game has four Legacy Paths: Cultural, Economic, Military, and Scientific. Fulfilling a Path in the first two ages grant significant boons for the next age. On the other hand, fulfilling a Path during the last age unlocks the respective victory condition. Conversely, failing to do anything significant for a Path at the end will result in a corresponding dark age and a boon that comes with a drawback.

Because each Path has a success condition, it follows that there are ways to win. Unfortunately, this can turn into a limiting factor for some playstyles. For example, two out of four Paths in the Exploration Age rely on colonizing distant lands. If you prefer playing an isolationist, you’re forced to succumb into a dark age for the Modern Age.

It pays to explore and fight

That said, it is a lot of fun to engage in the different systems of Civilization VII. Capturing settlements in distant lands is fun. Managing resources in colonies is fun. Evangelizing your religion to other continents is fun.

Though it feels limiting that turtling playstyles aren’t as incentivized as confrontational ones, it doesn’t feel like a chore to become a warlord or a colonial power. It also helps that the combat has been reworked.

While you can still throw as many units as you can towards a desired settlement, the key to achieving military greatness in Civilization VII is by using trainable army commanders. A replacement for Civilization VI’s Great Generals, the army commander is a unit that can grant bonuses to surrounding units. It is also the only type of unit that can earn experience. Therefore, a seasoned commander provides better bonuses.

Unit and commander placement become necessary strategic options. It’s not enough to completely surround a city. You need to have the right commanders surrounding the right units.

Additionally, war weariness is no longer an afterthought. A poorly supported war results in crippling unhappiness penalties which can (and will) turn your cities against you. Entering a war is now takes more involvement.

Traditionally, I prefer peaceful playstyles. But the complexity of warfare in Civilization VII makes it worthwhile to engage in wars if the time is right.

It also pays to stay and build

Now, city management also takes more involvement. In the past game, it was all about district placement. In Civilization VII, building placement is still important but you can maximize your yields more by managing how your citizens grow.

For me, this is a much better system, as it forces you to actually look at how your city is growing. Is it maximizing its land area? Should you sacrifice rural growth for urban specialists. Does your city look aesthetically pleasing? It does feel like growing more with your cities, rather than just placing districts for maximized outputs.

A race to the finish

On to the Modern Age. Contrary to the more confrontational Exploration Age, the Modern Age balances it all out with more peaceful ways to win. Except for the Military Legacy Path, all of the Paths don’t need wars to finish.

However, the pace does become frenetic. The game turns into an all-out race to finish a single victory condition. The other players will spam explorers to accumulate enough artifacts for a cultural victory. You’ll need to counter their efforts with your own explorers or rush to get a scientific victory by launching the first manned spaceflight. Alternatively, an economic victory needs a lot of city management, so you’ll need to focus on only that if you’re going for a win in that way.

Regardless, warfare becomes a foregone conclusion. Differing ideologies are the primary causes of war in the Modern Age. A warmongering AI with a different ideology from yours will easily paint you as a military target.

Excited for the future

On its own, Civilization VII is a well-made game. Each age lets different playstyles breathe and have their time in the sun. However, I do wonder if this is the end.

It feels odd that the victory conditions in the Modern Age are chronologically distant. In previous entries to the series, winning a science victory means launching the first mission to an exoplanet. Late game wars also ended with deadly nukes and even death robots.

Civilization VII, on the other hand, does not have nukes. A science victory also stops at sending a manned spaceflight.

All these oddities feel like a foreshadowing for more content and more ages. Currently, the studio has not announced plans for such, but it does make me excited for future updates.

Is Civilization VII your GameMatch?

As a long-time Civilization fan, it’s a no-brainer to suggest this game to other fans of the franchise. However, is it appealing to newcomers?

My answer is yes! Because of the new Legacy Paths, it’s never been easier to get into the franchise. It points players towards the right direction to make the most out of the game’s intricate systems.

Swipe left if you don’t particularly like strategy games. The genre requires a lot of commitment and learning, so those who are more used to plug-and-play mechanics, a Civilization game might not be for you.

Swipe right if you’re looking to sink your teeth into your very first strategy game. Learning labyrinthine systems is rewarding in its own right. Pair it with the feeling of ruling your own kingdom throughout history, and you have a match made in heaven.

Super swipe if you’re a fan of the Civilization franchise and 4X games. Civilization VII is the latest refining of a formula tried and tested for decades. There’s so much familiar with this new game, but there’s also a lot of new mechanics to understand and love.

Gaming

The next Elder Scrolls game is called Sentinel

And it will be set in Hammerfell.

Published

November 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.

Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.

The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.

Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.

Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.

Gaming

Wild Rift Patch 7.3, celebrates K/DA comeback

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER

Published

November 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.

After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.

To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.

Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins

The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.

The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.

The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.

The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.

The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.

Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds

Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.

One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.

Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.

The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.

Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.

Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.

Jungle changes reward efficient farming

Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.

The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.

Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.

These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.

Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.

Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.

Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.

Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster

Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.

Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.

Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.

Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.

These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.

Ranked play and game modes get updates

Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.

The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.

Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.

Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.

Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.

A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift

With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.

K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.

Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.

K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.

Gaming

Petit Planet launches December 4

HoYoverse’s cozy life sim arrives soon

Published

November 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

HoYoverse will launch Petit Planet, its first cozy galactic life simulation game, on December 4, 2026. The game will be available on PC, iOS, and Android, with a Nintendo Switch 2 release planned for 2027.

The announcement was made during the Petit Planet Pre-Launch Special Program on November 1. HoYoverse also revealed more details about the game’s characters, gameplay features, and launch events.

Build a planet and meet new Neighbors

In Petit Planet, players take on the role of Planet Tenders who travel across the Starsea with Oumuamua, a Starsea Spirit said to listen to people’s wishes.

Each player starts with their own planet, where they plant a Luca Seed that grows into a Luca Arbor. This tree gradually shapes the planet’s landscape, seasons, and ecosystem.

Players will also meet various Neighbors, including Planet Coordinator Mobai and Starsea Racer Elsasani. Getting to know these characters allows players to develop friendships and discover their individual stories.

Beyond their home planets, players can explore scattered Islets across the Starsea. They can also visit the Galactic Bazaar to play games, participate in auctions, and share their creations with others.

Launch events offer free rewards

HoYoverse has prepared several events to celebrate the game’s launch.

Players can enter a pre-registration lucky draw through the official website for a chance to win prizes. Regular gameplay will also offer more than 1,000 clothing and furniture items for free.

The Besties, Made to Match! event rewards players who invite two friends to pre-register. Each participant will receive an exclusive clothing item.

Starting November 1, the Launch a Planet event will let players design their own planets through the official event website. Participants will also have a chance to win surprise grand prizes.

The first Petit Planet Seasonal Creation Event will begin alongside the game’s launch. Selected fan creations can win cash prizes, in-game rewards, and official merchandise.

Players can also visit the game’s official X account after the special program to receive a Moving Guide and join a giveaway featuring a suitcase, gift cards, and an exclusive luggage tag.

Pre-register for Petit Planet

Petit Planet is now available for pre-registration on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Epic Games Store. Players can search for the game on these platforms to pre-register and receive a notification when it launches.

The game arrives globally on December 4, 2026, for PC, iOS, and Android. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is scheduled for 2027.