A full game of Civilization 6 typically takes anywhere from 8 to 20 hours, depending on your chosen game speed, map size, and victory conditions.
Ever wondered how long does a game of civilization 6 take? Many players dive into the ancient world, eager to build empires that stand the test of time. But these grand ambitions come with a significant time investment.
The actual duration can vary quite a bit, it’s not a simple answer. Game speed, like online, standard, or marathon can affect the pace. Also, the size of the map plays a key part in how long it takes to play. Choosing a larger map can make the game lengthier.
How Long Does a Game of Civilization 6 Take?
So, you’re ready to build your empire, lead your civilization through the ages, and become the ultimate world power in Civilization 6. That’s awesome! But before you jump in, you might be wondering: how long does a game of Civ 6 actually take? It’s a valid question, because let’s be honest, nobody wants to start a game that’s going to eat up a whole weekend if you only have a couple of hours. The answer, like many things in life, is: it depends. But don’t worry, we’re here to break it all down and help you figure out what to expect time-wise.
The Major Factors Influencing Game Length
Several things can make a game of Civilization 6 shorter or much, much longer. Think of it like baking a cake – the ingredients and how you bake them impact how long it takes to get a tasty result! Let’s look at the main ingredients that change your game time.
Game Speed
This is probably the biggest factor. When you start a new game, you get to pick the game speed. There are usually a few options, and they drastically change how quickly the game progresses. These game speed options are the most important factor, that decide how long a game will take. Let’s see them:
- Online: This is the fastest speed. It’s great if you want a quicker game and have less time to play. Think of it as a sprint. This game will take the least amount of time to complete a full game. You can finish an Online speed game within 2-3 hours usually.
- Quick: A little slower than Online, this is still a reasonably fast-paced game. It’s good for players who want to complete a game in one long session but don’t want to spend days on it. Expect to finish a game at Quick speed in 3-5 hours.
- Standard: This is the speed most players choose. It offers a good balance between game length and progress. It’s like a marathon, steady and with time to develop your civ. A standard speed game will take 5-8 hours to complete.
- Epic: This is a slower speed. It will take you much longer to complete a full game of Civilization 6. Epic games allow more time to see the consequences of your actions and for long wars. Expect to invest 8-12 hours at least in one complete game at Epic speed.
- Marathon: The slowest speed, this one stretches the game out considerably. You’ll have a lot of time to build your cities and develop your civ to the fullest. It allows you to really live in the age you play. Marathon speed games can easily take 12+ hours and might spread over several sessions.
To visualize how the game speed impacts the time, look at the chart below:
| Game Speed | Estimated Playtime |
|---|---|
| Online | 2-3 Hours |
| Quick | 3-5 Hours |
| Standard | 5-8 Hours |
| Epic | 8-12+ Hours |
| Marathon | 12+ Hours |
Map Size and Type
The size of the map also matters. A tiny map with few opponents will end much faster than a huge map with a dozen other civilizations vying for control. A smaller map is like a small playground, where everyone bumps into each other more quickly. A huge map is like a huge continent where it takes much longer to go from one side to another and to meet other players. Map type also matters: a water-heavy map might slow down exploration at first whereas a map with lots of mountains will restrict movement and change the pace. The more room to explore and expand there is the longer it is likely to take.
Number of Civilizations (Opponents)
More opponents mean more to deal with. More opponents will also mean longer game times. You will have more chances to be involved in wars and diplomacy, adding more time to the game. A game with only 2-3 opponents can be finished much faster than a game with 10-12 other civilizations. So, number of opponents also impacts the time it will take to complete the game. Fewer opponents means shorter game times, while more opponents means longer game times.
Victory Type
The way you win a game impacts how long it takes to win. Here are the different win conditions you can achieve in Civilization 6, and how they might impact the game time:
Domination Victory
A Domination Victory means you have to conquer all other civilization’s original capitals. This involves lots of warring, city sieges, and troop movement. It can be quite time-consuming, especially if your opponents have strong defenses or are spread out all over the map. This victory condition is very war heavy, and usually requires players to play a very long game to fully achieve the victory. This type of victory is likely to make the game take longer, since it requires eliminating all the other civilisations from the game.
Science Victory
To win with a Science Victory, you have to be the first to launch a Mars colony. This victory is about focusing on research and technology. This kind of victory requires careful planning and efficient city building and therefore can be achieved much faster than Domination victory. It’s like a race to the stars, with the emphasis on quick technological advancement. The amount of time it takes depends on how good you are in this particular victory type. It is likely to take a little less time than a Domination victory.
Culture Victory
A Culture Victory happens when your civilization generates more tourism than any other civilization. This involves great artists, amazing wonders, and tons of exploration. This victory type is a slower one to achieve, but is also one of the most relaxed to achieve. If you focus on culture from the start of the game you may win quicker but the general approach with this victory is a slow and steady approach. Achieving this victory may take similar amount of time as Domination or slightly less.
Religion Victory
To get a Religion Victory, you have to convert all civilizations to your religion. This will make you the dominant religion in the game. This requires a lot of faith and building religious structures and using religious units effectively. This type of victory is not difficult but can take a while to achieve, especially when other civilisations are also focusing on religion. This type of victory is likely to take more or less the same amount of time as other victories in general.
Diplomatic Victory
A Diplomatic Victory is achieved through earning diplomatic favor through resolutions in the world congress. This involves lots of alliances and earning favours with other civilisations. The amount of time it will take depends on how good you are in this particular victory type. This victory usually takes a balanced approach and a good plan in order to achieve, therefore the amount of time this will take would be about the same as other victory types.
Score Victory
If no one achieves any of the above victory conditions, then a score victory is automatically given to the civilisation with the highest score after the turn limit of the game is reached. This does not affect the time it takes to complete the game but does determine how the game ends, especially if none of the victory conditions is met.
Your Playstyle
Your style of play is another significant influence on game time. If you are a very aggressive player that focuses on war, your games will take much more time. These games would involve long wars and may need careful planning, therefore taking more time to complete a full game. If you’re someone who likes to explore every corner of the map, you might take longer than someone who focuses solely on their own area. Some players like to take their time and make sure each city is perfectly planned out, whereas some player like to play fast and not look much at the small details. How fast you play has a direct impact on the amount of time a game will take. If you like to be very careful and plan out each action that will definitely make your games much longer than someone who plays more carelessly. How you play is a key element in how long your game will last. For example if you take a lot of time in each turn then this will drastically increase your game time whereas fast and careful players may have a shorter game time compared to those who take a lot of time in each turn.
Experience With the Game
If you’re brand new to Civ 6, it will definitely take you longer to play a game, than for someone who has played the game for years. You’ll be spending time figuring out the mechanics and how everything works. Experienced players who know the game well will tend to play much quicker, because they already know the best strategies to use. Therefore the amount of experience a player has in the game, is also an important factor in how long a game will take. The more experience you have, the faster you will be able to complete a game. If you are a new player, be prepared to spend a little more time, but don’t worry it’s a fun process of learning.
How to Speed Up Your Game
If you’re eager to finish your Civilization 6 game faster, here are a few tips:
- Choose a Faster Game Speed: If you are limited with time, then playing online or quick is best option.
- Play on a Smaller Map: Smaller maps will lead to shorter game time.
- Limit the Number of Opponents: Fewer opponents to deal with means shorter game time.
- Focus on One Victory Type: If you know how to achieve a victory type quickly, then focus on it to achieve it quickly.
- Learn the Game Well: Knowing how to play the game is the most important factor to make the game time faster, learning some common strategies and tactics will drastically improve game time.
- Auto-End Turns: If you’re sure you’ve given your cities all the orders they need, use the “end turn” button, rather than spending a long time looking at the whole map.
- Plan Ahead: Planning what you are doing with your cities and military will save time and make your game faster, rather than being lost and making random choices.
By using these steps, you can finish the game in a quicker amount of time.
So, there you have it! The amount of time it takes to play Civilization 6 varies greatly depending on several factors. Remember that there is no definite answer, but generally a complete game can take anywhere from 2-3 hours to more than 12 hours. Your first game may be longer, as you get familiar with the game’s mechanics. Choose your game speed according to the time you have and enjoy the process of building your civilization. Ultimately, enjoy the journey of playing Civilization 6, regardless of how long it takes. Remember, the goal is to have fun building a great civilization!
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Final Thoughts
The game length varies greatly in Civilization 6. A quick game on a smaller map might take a few hours, while a large map with many players can span over several play sessions. Several factors influence game duration, including map size and chosen difficulty level.
Ultimately, how long does a game of civilization 6 take depends on player preferences and pace. Some players prefer shorter, faster games; others savor longer, strategic playthroughs. Expect a minimum of a few hours, potentially much longer.
