Daniel (@Dungeondive) explores 7th Citadel, the spiritual successor to 7th Continent, diving into its similarities, differences, and overall gameplay experience. While 7th Continent left Daniel cold due to its heavy reliance on survival mechanics, 7th Citadel ditches the crafting and hunting systems in favor of a more streamlined, adventure-driven experience. Set in a mysterious post-apocalyptic world with shades of science fantasy, the game emphasizes exploration and storytelling as players uncover secrets, solve threats, and build their settlements. With simplified mechanics, such as the removal of survival elements, and scalable gameplay that caters to true solo play, Daniel finds 7th Citadel far more engaging and accessible than its predecessor.
The game excels in creating a rich narrative with minimal components, relying on thousands of cards, a paragraph book, and a settlement system that allows for meaningful progression. Players can customize their character decks, scout new regions, and build their community through branching tech trees and thematic buildings. The settlement phase, reminiscent of Kingdom Death: Monster, adds depth and strategy, offering a satisfying sense of progress between scenarios. The map system and evolving card-based exploration ensure surprises, while the branching scenario structure provides replayability and variety.
While Daniel appreciates the improved mechanics and immersive world-building, he still finds the constant card management and somewhat cerebral action system cumbersome. However, the removal of frustrating survival mechanics and the game’s streamlined setup and save system make 7th Citadel a significant improvement over 7th Continent. Daniel concludes that while it doesn’t resolve all of his issues, the strengths of 7th Citadel—its sense of discovery, approachable design, and engaging narrative—make it a game he’s excited to continue exploring.