Civilization 7 uses the same general mechanics that the old iterations in the franchise used, but it revamps them and changes the way they work to make the gameplay flow better, allowing the title to feel less like a PhD thesis and more like a casual game.
There is still enough depth in the game for hardcore Civ enjoyers, but it's simple enough that even a casual gamer can go through an entire playthrough without needing to read or calculate much. Policy slots are one of the revamped mechanics that work a little differently than they did in the previous game. For those looking to make the most of this feature, here's how to get more policy slots in Civilization 7.
Civilization 7: The Unwritten Rules of Achieving an Economic Victory Explained
Civilization 7 has made a few changes to the series' usual victory types, and that means fans are discovering a whole new set of unwritten rules.
How Do Policy Slots Work in Civ 7?
The policy card mechanic from Civ 6 has been reworked to policy slots for the new game. In the previous title, policies were divided into different types: Science, Military, etc., and they could only be slotted into their specific slots, which were unlocked through trying different governments.
In Civ 7, social policies and policy slots are no longer restricted to a type, and there are no specific slots they need to be placed in, making the whole process a lot simpler. Instead, players unlock new policy slots as they progress further in the game, and they can affix different policies that they unlock by unlocking Civics. When a new policy is unlocked, players can change the policies that they have equipped in their slots, letting them boost their playstyles in different ways.
Types of Policy Cards in Civ 7
The social policies that players obtain in Civ 7 are of two types. The policies that are obtained by going through the typical civic tree are called policy cards. Civilization-specific cards that players can only obtain by going through the civic tree of a specific civilization are called tradition cards.
The benefit of tradition cards over normal policy cards is that they are retained between ages, whereas policy cards are lost. Certain leaders and mementos synergize with tradition cards as well, making them great for getting that extra little boost.
Civilization 7: Exploration Age Explained
Civilization 7 takes place across three Ages that separate the pace of the game, with the Exploration Age creating a dramatic shift for player goals.
How to Increase Policy Slots in Civ 7
Increasing policy slots is a necessity in Civ 7 if you want to have a good time playing it. It isn't a requirement per se, but the benefit of having more policies is tremendous, and there is no downside. There are three ways for the player to increase their policy slots:
- Celebrations: Triggering Celebrations in your empire will unlock a social policy slot. This means that you should maximize happiness output if you want to get more policy slots. The happier your citizens are with your rule, the better you will be able to govern them.
Each celebration increases the amount of happiness required for the next celebration.
- Leader Attribute: The third tier Diplomatic leader attribute gives the player an additional social policy slot. This is valuable in the late-game when it is difficult to trigger another celebration.
- Civic Research: There are a few civics in each age that can grant the player policy slots. They are as follows:
|
Civic Era |
Civic Name |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Antiquity Age |
Philosophy |
||
|
Exploration Age |
Bureaucracy |
Diplomatic Service |
|
|
Modern Age |
Political Theory |
||
|
Unique Civics |
Norman (Exploration) |
Common Law |
|
|
Mexican (Modern) |
Planes Politicos Mastery |
||
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 77%
- Released
- February 11, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
