Civilization 7: Ranking Contemporary Societies

In Civilization 7, the Modern Age is where the game reaches its climax, and your performance here can determine whether you emerge as the victor. It’s crucial to leverage your advantages and make savvy decisions transitioning from the Exploration Age.

The civilization you opt for during this era can be pivotal to your success. With up to ten civilizations to choose from in the Modern Age—eleven if you’ve added the Crossroads of the World DLC—you’ll find that pairing the right civilization with suitable leaders can yield formidable synergies. To simplify your choice, here’s a tier list highlighting the top civilizations in Civ 7’s Modern Age.

Remember: while your chosen Leader provides additional buffs, maximizing your civilization’s potential might require a harmonious pairing. This tier list is based solely on the inherent power of each civilization, independent of leader interactions. So, consider how a civilization aligns with your leader’s strengths when making your selection.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs Tier List

• S-tier: America, Meiji Japan
• A-tier: French Empire, Mexico, Qing
• B-tier: Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam
• C-tier: Mughal

Note: The new DLC civilization, Great Britain, is yet to be ranked; time will tell how it measures up!

S-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations stand at the pinnacle of Civilization 7’s offerings. Their access to powerful military units and resources makes them dominant forces on any map.

S-tier: America

America offers a robust suite of benefits, enabling it to thrive in the Modern Age. The Frontier Expansion trait provides a significant gold boost whenever resources are improved. Additionally, the synergy between the Railyard and Steel Mill, forming the Industrial Park, ensures plenty of food, production, and gold, positioning America as a versatile and expansive civilization. With the Prospector to claim critical resources and the nimble Marine unit with its A amphibious ability, America presents a compelling choice.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Meiji Japan is incredibly adaptable, granting players the ability to modify districts for better returns while earning science through the Goisshin trait. The Zaibatsu Quarter maximizes gold and production, fueling a powerful endgame run. The naval unit Mikasa, with its ability to respawn, and the Zero fighter can both shift the battlefield in your favor through unmatched persistence and strength in air skirmishes.

A-Tier Modern Civs

While not quite at the S-tier level, these civilizations still provide significant strategic advantages, with access to essential resources and robust military units.

A-Tier: French Empire

The French Empire excels in culturally driven victories, thanks to its Avenue, combining the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon for cultural and happiness feedback loops. The civilization can celebrate frequently, gaining benefits from the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait. While the Garde Imperiale unit isn’t groundbreaking, it offers a solid defense for your thriving culture.

A-Tier: Mexico

Mexico is another cultural powerhouse akin to France, though it leans heavier on gold acquisition. By maintaining happiness and triggering celebrations, you’ll net a 30% culture boost, further enhanced by the Zocalo Quarter. The Soldaderas Unit, with healing capabilities, adds a tactical edge, especially during cultural ascension.

A-Tier: Qing

Qing offers a delicate balance of bonuses and drawbacks. While its Kang Qian Shengshi trait enhances gold, culture, and influence, it sacrifices science, necessitating careful management. Strategic resource and building placements can offset this, supported by the Gusa unit, which excels in formation combat.

B-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations possess solid qualities with some degree of specialization, but their scenarios may be limited compared to higher-tier choices.

B-Tier: Buganda

Buganda thrives on an aggressive playstyle, utilizing its River Raids trait for cultural gains through pillaging. By leveraging units like Abambowa and Mwami, Buganda makes the most out of raids to gather resources, but it demands frequent warfare and opportunistic conquests.

B-Tier: Prussia

Prussia caters to players who enjoy confrontation, gaining combat strength against unfriendly civs. With stellar units like the Hussar and Stuka, Prussia stands strong in conventional battles but risks being overpowered if others unite against it.

B-Tier: Russia

Russia enjoys modest boosts to science and culture through its districts, shining particularly on tundra terrain. Its Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher units offer defensive capabilities, yet specific conditions limit their full potential.

B-Tier: Siam

Siam provides the unique option to become a City-State’s suzerain instantly, offering varying strategic options depending on City-State benefits. The civilization boasts good ranged units, but relies on external Influence and luck to reach its zenith.

C-Tier Modern Civs

Not inherently weak, these civilizations might be situationally dependent or require a specific playstyle that caters to experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

The Mughal civilization presents a trade-off with its Paradise of Nations trait: a remarkable gold increase countered by reduced yields elsewhere. Skilled players can harness this gold to compensate, but less savvy ones might struggle with its limitations. While its unique units and improvements offer potential benefits, they often require careful strategizing to be impactful.

Patrick, a seasoned freelance journalist, digs deep into gaming systems, spending four-figures hours on titles like Overwatch 2 and Destiny 2, attesting to his passion and expertise.