The good

• The ages system helps to solve many longstanding problems with the overall arc of a Civilization game
• Influence yield makes diplomacy better than it’s ever been
• Tweaks and additions turn building city districts into the full realization of what VI was hinting at but never achieved
• The visual presentation is excellent, with sprawling, intricate cities and detailed leaders
• Several additions streamline annoying busywork the franchise is known for without curtailing depth

The bad

• Content is light even though systems are robust; there are no scenarios at all
• The final few turns of an age end up feeling wonky
• You can’t rename your cities for some reason

The ugly

• Some launch-window bugs and other issues might make it worth waiting a few weeks before digging in