Civilization VI: Rise and Fall

Lore & Background

The expansion introduces global eras, triggered when any competing civilization reaches required milestones. All civilizations are evaluated for their Era Score based on advancement goals, including Historic Moments such as circumnavigating the globe. The Era Score determines if a civilization enters a Golden Age, Dark Age, or proceeds normally. Golden Ages improve city loyalty and production, while Dark Ages reduce loyalty. Players can bring a civilization out of a Dark Age to gain rewards, or achieve a Heroic Age by transitioning from Dark to Golden Age. Players select a Dedication each Age to earn additional Era Score points. Cities have a loyalty rating affected by Golden or Dark Ages, boosted by happiness, proper government edicts, and nearby loyal cities, but lost by opposing cities or unhappiness. If loyalty drops to zero, a city becomes a Free City, which can be taken by any civilization through military or loyalty pressure. Players can assign Governors to cities through the civics tree; Governors specialize in areas like military or economy and provide loyalty boosts. Alliances can be formed with other civilizations based on specific goals, such as scientific or economic alliances, and can become more powerful over time. Emergencies are triggered by events like a civilization using a nuclear weapon or starting a holy war; civilizations may take sides and complete short-term goals for lasting rewards. New units, city improvements, and the Government Plaza district were added, with the plaza providing significant loyalty and other benefits.

Reader's Guide

Rise and Fall is significant for introducing systems that simulate historical cycles of growth and decline, making the game's narrative more dynamic. The Era Score and Age system forces players to adapt to changing conditions, rewarding risk-taking through Dark Ages and Heroic Ages. Loyalty mechanics add a new layer of strategy, allowing peaceful expansion through cultural pressure and requiring careful management of city happiness and governors. Alliances and emergencies create shifting diplomatic relationships and shared objectives. The expansion also brought nine new leaders and eight new civilizations, each with unique strengths, such as Korea's scientific focus, Mongolia's cavalry, and the Zulu's early military power. The inclusion of the Cree civilization drew criticism from Cree Headman Milton Tootoosis, who stated that Firaxis did not approach them and that the inclusion perpetuates a myth of First Nations having conquering values. The expansion was ported to iOS in July 2019 and to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in November 2019. It received generally positive reviews on Metacritic and was nominated for a G.A.N.G. Award for Best Original Choral Composition.

Did You Know?

• The expansion introduces a Heroic Age when a civilization transitions from a Dark Age to a Golden Age at the next era shift.
• Cities with zero loyalty become Free Cities that can be taken by any civilization.
• The Cree civilization's inclusion was criticized by Cree Headman Milton Tootoosis for not being consulted.
• The expansion was ported to iOS on July 24, 2019.

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