Civ 7's Emergent Narratives & Narrative Events System Explained

Developers of new Ages being introduced by Civ 7, giving players' choices more impact on their civilization's story.

This new story- and narrative-based approach to 4X strategy games will likely not feel like a major departure from gameplay in Civ 6, but it will be noticeable as players make choices through the Ages. Choices that players make, even on a granular level with narrative options in Discoveries (the new "goody huts"), will reflect the values and priorities of their civilization and will shape the larger narrative that players create while they grow their civilizations. These narrative aspects are ubiquitous in Civ 7 and will be apparent throughout each Age. Here's a look at how the Emergent Narrative system will work in Civilization 7.

What Emergent Narratives Are In Civ 7

History Built In Layers

The new Emergent Narratives are essentially a reimagined approach to the classic Civ experience that incorporates storytelling into every element of gameplay, from minor narrative decisions that can be made through Discoveries up to larger Narrative Events that have substantial impact on the end result of the game. This system is meant to create stories that "emerge from choices [players] make and the results of those decisions," according to 2K's Civilization website. Despite concerns from Civ players about all the new changes coming in Civ 7, this storytelling-focused approach to Civ 7 will hopefully result in unique, player-crafted narratives for each playthrough.

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The core philosophy behind this new system is "History Built in Layers," meaning developers of Civ 7 want to emulate the historical "layering" that occurs in the real world as civilizations progress and evolve. Instead of being stuck with a conventional, linear historical narrative for a single civilization, players will create an original and unique one that allows choices to build upon those that players made in previous Ages. Emergent Narratives are a way for players to feel like their choices matter not only in gameplay, but in telling a larger story about their civilization.

The Narrative Event System And How It Works

Emergent Narratives Use Narrative Events To Tell Unique Stories

The new Emergent Narrative system "tracks major moments in your game – like battles, technological advancements, and big achievements – and responds with events tailored to your playthrough." This means that Civ 7 will incorporate narrative events that are triggered based on a player's decisions made throughout the game. Requirements for different events vary depending on leader selection, different civilization choices, or specific gameplay moments like decisions made for Discoveries. Narrative events tied to individual leaders will reflect historically rich stories from their lives, "such as Augustus' urbanization ambitions or Benjamin Franklin's fire brigade."

More importantly, this system allows narrative development across Ages, allowing players' decisions from early in the game to have a greater sense of influence and impact on their civilization's overall story. Practically, this should result in civilizations engaging in redemption arcs, or alternatively, a major fall from grace compared to decisions made during the Antiquity Age. Adding multiple layers of narrative development is the aim of the Emergent Narrative system, and narrative events themselves. A small decision made in a Discovery in the early game, for example, will build toward triggering a narrative event that offers unique rewards.

Narrative Events And What They Mean For Gameplay

Narrative Events Offer A Sense Of Historical Immersion

The Emergent Narrative system is designed with "historical immersion" in mind, and developers are enthusiastic about how narrative events will revolutionize Civ gameplay. Players will experience and create a cumulative story as they progress through the Ages, one that takes into the many decisions that players make. Certain narrative events will be much rarer or difficult to trigger, but these also offer rewards that are "commensurate with the difficulty or rarity of the triggers." Players will only experience "a subset of these narrative events in a single campaign, which helps make every new playthrough feel unique."

Tying narrative events to dynamic types of rewards will incentivize certain choices over others, depending on the individual person's strategic approach.

As part of the larger narrative-focused system, narrative events have the potential to alter players' approach to the game as a whole and will have them rethinking their motivations for each decision. Considering how each choice impacts future possibilities will dramatically shift how players strategize, explore, build, and develop. Tying narrative events to dynamic types of rewards will incentivize certain choices over others, depending on the individual person's strategic approach. Players will also see narrative events that involve "callbacks" to choices from previous Ages, "referencing events that happened thousands of (in-game) years ago."

Types Of Narrative Events And What They Mean For Player Strategy

Narrative Events Range From Discoveries To Systemic Events

Systemic Events gameplay screenshot Civ 7

There are many different versions of what a narrative event may look like in Civ 7, but developers have broken them down into three broad categories: Historical Events, What-If Scenarios, and Unique Gameplay Moments. These cover the vast range of events that players will experience throughout the Ages, and will tie directly into long-term strategizing as the civilization evolves. There are also specific types of events tied to Civ 7's version of "goody huts," referred to as Discoveries, and Systemic Events that are "recurring gameplay moments, like Crises or gifts from Independent Powers" – both carry strategic implications as well.

Types Of Narrative Events In Civ 7
Historical Events	"These highlight moments large and small from history that align with your gameplay. You might see ancient medicinal discoveries, daring prisoner escapes, chariot riots, artistic feuds, and enormous Mongolian armies."
What-If Scenarios	"These explore 'what if' questions unique to the sandbox nature of a Civ game. For instance, what could have happened if Ashoka had not been overcome with remorse at the destruction he caused, and instead doubled down on a path of violence? Or if Xerxes had not been defeated and had successfully completed his invasion of Greece?"
Unique Gameplay Moments	"These reflect choices you've directly made in your game, showing the on-the-ground impact of your actions during each Age. Achieving a Golden Age with certain Traditions active, choosing your Religion's beliefs, or suffering damage from wars or weather events can all bring up narrative events."
Discoveries	"Discoveries are a subset of narrative events that only occur on the map, and replace goody huts from previous games. Instead of a small phrase and a standard reward, you'll have a short snippet of text giving you a bit of flavor as to why you're getting these rewards. Unlike goody huts, Discoveries now have a choice between their bonuses, allowing you to have some influence over your early game boosts."
Systemic Events	"Systemic events are recurring gameplay moments, like Crises or gifts from Independent Powers, and they use the Emergent Narrative system to add context and personality to game mechanics."

The Emergent Narrative system was developed with historical immersion through narrative events as the key component. These different narrative events will be noticeable in all aspects of gameplay, and will drive players to make specific choices that result in unique playthroughs. While it's unclear how satisfying this new system and philosophical approach to Civ will be for fans of the franchise, it's obvious that dynamic and immersive story-telling was incredibly important in the development of the game. Fans will be eager to see what unique stories they can build for themselves when Civilization 7 releases in February.

Sources: Sid Meier's Civilization/YouTube, Civilization