How Do Ages Work in Civilization VII?

There are three different Ages that players will encounter in Civilization VII. This type of system has been present in past games, indicating when you have moved into a new technological era and the like. But the three Ages work completely differently in Civ VII, in a way that can be confusing for even veteran players.

All Three Ages in Civ VII, Explained

The three Ages you can find in this strategy game are the Ages of Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. They all work separately from one another, for the most part. Every single civilization in the match will carry on to the next Age together. How it works is major moves, decisions, and creations will gently shift the Age to the next one until a meter fills and you move on together.

When you move into the next Age, you pick a new civilization to use. This largely depends on which leader you are playing as. The ultimate focus is the Modern Age where the end of the match happens. It is here that you are able to win the match, depending on what you did in the previous Ages.

What Carries Over in Each Age in Civilization VII

The key point to remember about the Ages in Civ VII is what carries over. Most items, units, and some buildings do not carry over to the next Age. This can be frustrating, but there are some buildings that are Ageless like Wonders. There are also some units that are also Ageless and carry over.

Most importantly, your Legacy Points earned from Legacy Paths carry over. This depends on which of the four attributes you go for — Science, Military, Economic, or Culture — but completing objectives in one Age earns you points and buffs for the next Age. This is why it is essential you pick an attribute and stick to it through all three Ages.

Note that if you are annoyed by the Ages system like me, it is possible to play a match with a single Age like Modern. This is also helpful if you want a speedier match.

Civilization VII releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 11, 2025. It is currently available in Early Access.