Civilization 7 introduces just a few huge modifications to the sequence, most notably the Ages mechanic that has you swap out your civilization for a brand new one as the sport progresses by Antiquity, Exploration, and Trendy Ages. Your selection of chief, although, sticks with you all through the complete sport.
Whereas they don’t present as many traits and items as Civilizations, Leaders nonetheless have highly effective skills that may create some glorious combos when blended and matched. That can assist you out, we’ve created this tier listing of each Chief and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. This could allow you to select who you need to be the face of your empire as you construct your future all the way in which into the Trendy Age.
Greatest Civ 7 Leaders
Greatest Civ 7 Leaders
Word: This tier listing doesn’t bear in mind synergies with Civilizations, and is totally targeted on a regular, single-player sport of Civilization 7. Multiplayer is just not taken into consideration right here, and we’ve not included DLC Leaders Ada Lovelace or Simón Bolívar.
Civilization 7 Chief Tier Checklist
S-Tier – Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus
A-Tier – Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko Excessive Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid
B-Tier – Amina, Catherine The Nice, Friedrich Indirect, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Napoleon Emperor, Napoleon Revolution, Tecumseh, Himiko Queen of Wa
C-Tier – Friedrich Baroque, Pachacuti
S-Tier Leaders
S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer
+1 Manufacturing for each 5 extra Happiness in Cities.+10% Manufacturing in Settlements not based by you.Declaring a Formal Warfare grants a Celebration. +5 Fight Power in opposition to Districts for all Items throughout a Celebration.
Ashoka, World Conquerer is all about holding your personal residents comfortable whereas terrorizing different civilizations. Happiness is a really robust yield, and so long as you may preserve a robust movement of extra Happiness, you’re going to get continuous advantages. Settlements not based by you and extra Happiness end in further Manufacturing that means you can also make a variety of Items and keep a robust base to gas your conflict efforts. Additionally, declaring a Formal Warfare grants you an automated Celebration. This provides you an prompt +5 Fight Power in opposition to Districts and All Items. This makes you glorious at placing your enemy on the again foot instantly as soon as a conflict is asserted.
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With all the surplus Happiness, you may probably get one or two further Celebrations throughout a conflict, so that you undergo intervals of utmost navy energy. The one factor to handle is, as you are taking over Settlements out of your fellow civs, coping with the unrest they create. Nonetheless, in case you can handle that and preserve everybody comfortable, Ashoka, World Conquerer is likely one of the strongest leaders within the sport.
S-Tier: Augustus
+2 Manufacturing within the Capital for each City. Should buy Tradition Buildings in Cities.+50% Gold in the direction of buying Buildings in Cities.
Augustus will get a variety of advantages from a comparatively easy model of play. He’s all about going huge along with his Settlements and establishing as many Cities as doable, be that by settling or conquest. Curiously although, his worth is available in not upgrading Cities to Metropolis. That saves him Gold, however he will get a pleasant bonus to Gold and Manufacturing for sustaining as many Cities as doable.
He can flip his Capital right into a powerhouse, with all of his cities feeding his central base. On prime of he should buy buildings cheaper in Cities, and has entry to purchasing Tradition buildings. This could actually add up, each giving him immense quantities of Manufacturing and Tradition, but in addition saving him cash alongside the way in which. It’s a properly rounded model of play with nice advantages and an easy-to-understand aim. Simply get on the market and settle a number of Cities – or take them by drive.
S-Tier: Confucius
+25% Progress Fee in Cities.+2 Science from Specialists.
Confucius is a grasp on the subject of increasing his Cities. The pure +25% Progress Fee in Cities is simply highly effective, particularly early on when land-grabbing is necessary. You possibly can increase your borders a lot quicker than your opponents, absorbing key Sources earlier than they’ll. And you are able to do it with out the ache of going to conflict.
He additionally has ease turning into probably the greatest producers of Science within the sport because of getting +2 Science from Specialists. This could make him notably potent, particularly ultimately sport the place his Specilasits stack up, and he has entry to rather more superior Expertise than different civilizations. He may have a bit of assist defending his lands, so a robust Civilization pairing, or making a strong ally can go far. Outdoors of that although, there’s not quite a bit that’s going to cease Confucius from gobbling up all of the land he can, all whereas being one of the crucial technologically superior.
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S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
+3 Fight Power for Items which might be attacking in impartial or enemy territory.Achieve 100 Tradition and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the primary time. +10% Gold in all Settlements, elevated even additional in Settlements not based by you.+1 Settlement restrict per Age.
Xerxes, King of Kings is as easy because it will get. He has one specialty – attacking different gamers and taking their Settlements. It’s not difficult or highbrowed, however it’s undoubtedly efficient, particularly if you’re searching for a Navy Victory.
He advantages from being the aggressor in each state of affairs, getting free fight power, that doesn’t require something to activate previous initiating fights in international territory. He’s additionally incentivized to take over as many Settlements as his limits will permit, although he even will get a better Settlement restrict. For doing so, not solely is he advancing the Navy Legacy Path, he beneficial properties Tradition and Gold additional fueling his navy goals.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
+1 Meals in Cities for each 5 extra Happiness.+10% Meals in all Settlements throughout Celebration.All buildings achieve a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Enhancements.
Whereas not as militarily spooky because the World Conquerer model of Ashoka, the World Renouncer is actually nothing to smell at. Whereas the opposite model is about turning Happiness into navy would possibly, this model of Ashoka is all about turning Happiness into inhabitants.
This modifications the play from making an attempt to take over as many Settlements along with your items, into going for a land seize and establishing Districts. This may be glorious in the suitable fingers, particularly those that know how you can handle huge populations and metropolis building. You may also bypass the unrest of taking on Settlements, so there may be an argument the World Renouncer is as robust and even stronger. That stated, it requires a bit of extra finesse and doesn’t obtain the highly effective manufacturing bonuses. Both method although, so long as your inhabitants is comfortable, your borders must be increasing in case you select to go the World Renouncer route.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
+1 Science per Age on Manufacturing Buildings in CIties.+50% Manufacturing in the direction of setting up Manufacturing Buildings.+1 Science per Age lively Endeavors you began or supported.Can have two Endeavors of the identical kind lively at a time.
Benjamin Franklin is an distinctive and versatile Chief in case you intend to go down the Science route in your sport. What’s good is his specialties are in Science and Manufacturing, that means not solely are you able to analysis a variety of Expertise rapidly, however you may then make the product of your labor quickly after too.
His traits create a pleasant suggestions loop round Manufacturing Buildings the place setting up Manufacturing Buildings could be accomplished quick, and he then will get further Science for each. He additionally advantages from having good relations with these round him, and may additional his Science technology by coming into into Endeavors.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Navy and Science Buildings obtain a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. Achieve 2 free Cavalry Items, as soon as unlocked, when coming into a Celebration.+5 Fight Power for Cavalry Items throughout a Celebration.
Navy and Science are at all times a strong mixture, permitting you to be on the innovative of latest warfare Applied sciences, after which urgent that benefit. Charlemagne is inspired to push for Navy and Science buildings to assist prop up some highly effective Happiness traits.
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So long as he can preserve his inhabitants comfortable, he can regularly enter Celebrations, which in flip offers him free Cavalry Items. Whereas that’s occurring too, these already robust early and mid-game items achieve much more power. It’s a really horse-centric technique, however stampeding over your fellow Civilizations is a really robust tactic within the early components of the sport. Whereas he might battle extra within the Trendy Age as soon as the likes of Tanks and Planes are launched, he must be established with a really robust empire by then.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
+100% Affect in the direction of Initiating Espionage Actions.Achieve 5 Warfare Assist on all wars declared in opposition to you.Items ignore motion penalties from Vegetation.
Harriet Tubman is undoubtedly one of many stealthiest selections in Civilization 7. Affect could be a highly effective yield, and Harriet can wield it maybe most powerfully of all. She will trigger some actual bother for different Civilizations by messing with them by technique of Espionage, permitting you to disrupt or steal benefits from others.
Even in case you get caught and anger a strong drive, the 5 Warfare Assist you get when a conflict is asserted in opposition to you is a gigantic drain on them, that ought to can help you grind out a victory. On prime of that, her armies are nimble, and in a position to ignore vegetation, making her exhausting to pin down, tricksy, and a ache to take care of when she’s defending.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
+1 Tradition for each imported Useful resource.+15% Manufacturing in the direction of the development of Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjoining to Navigable Rivers.
Hatshepsut can get entry to essentially robust spikes in Tradition. It advantages her to have good relationships and set up Commerce Routes for imported Sources. She will get +1 Tradition for each, so each time she enters right into a commerce with one other civilization, it offers her a pleasant increase of Tradition.
She’s additionally one of many best possible at producing Wonders, but in addition, Buildings usually. This makes her very robust within the early Tradition Legacy Paths. Whereas she must be using a Navigable River, most cities must be on one anyway, so this isn’t a tough requirement to fulfill.
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A-Tier: Himiko, Excessive Shaman
+2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings.+50% Manufacturing in the direction of setting up Happiness Buildings.+20% Tradition however -10% Science, and these results are doubled whereas in a Celebration.
Himiko is probably one of the best producer of Tradition in Civilization 7. Her traits are very highly effective, and the combination it has with Happiness is a potent one. Developing Happiness Buildings is quick because of the manufacturing bonus, and the Happiness Buildings solely get stronger with age. She additionally will get a ridiculous +20% passive increase to Tradition, which doubles throughout Celebrations, additional feeding into Happiness.
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Nonetheless, it comes with drawbacks. She additionally has a -10% passive to Science, which additionally doubles throughout a celebration. This can require you to concentrate on your handicap and work round it. That stated, so long as you both make the most of Endeavors or compensate for the Science loss with Buildings and assets, these potential peaks of Tradition boosts far outweigh the detrimental Science nerf.
A-Tier: Isabella
Achieve 300 Gold each time you uncover a Pure Marvel, doubled if the Pure Marvel is in Distant Lands.+100% further tile yields from Pure Wonders.+50% Gold in the direction of buying Naval Items, and -1 Gold upkeep value for Naval Items.
Isabella can completely catapult herself early on if she will discover a Pure Marvel. Particularly within the Antiquity Age, if discovered early sufficient, 300 Gold is an enormous boon. This enables her to purchase items or buildings that ought to put her fairly a bit forward if accomplished on the proper time. If she is ready to incorporate the Pure Marvel into her borders too, she’s going to get huge tile Yields, making it once more, very highly effective the sooner you are able to do it.
That stated, this after all relies in your discovering and securing the Pure Wonders. She will fall sufferer to unfortunate map placement. If there’s no close by Pure Marvel early on, then she’s not going to be getting many advantages. That stated, it doesn’t matter what, she ought to have a robust Navy, by shopping for water-based Items and sustaining them with no drawback.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
When gaining rewards from Narrative Occasions, achieve an extra 20 Tradition and Gold per Age.Has further Narrative Occasions.+50% Celebration length.+50% Happiness in the direction of Celebrations.
Jose Rizal is a grasp of Celebrations. The 50% Celebration Period and +50% Happiness in the direction of Celebrations tandem could be very robust. This will help him make huge beneficial properties with highly effective Celebration results, particularly if he strikes within the route of Tradition. He could have Celebrations typically and have them lively for longer. That’s glorious.
He additionally will get good boosts of Tradition and Gold for the Narrative Occasions he participates in and fortunately they occur extra often to him than over civs. Whereas these probably gained’t sway a sport on their very own, they’re a pleasant garnish on the Celebration synergy accessible to him.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
+3 affect per Age.Positive factors 50 Gold per Age when your Diplomatic Motion proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when they’re rejected.Ignore Relationship necessities for declaring Formal Wars.Can Levy Navy Items from Metropolis-States you aren’t Suzerin of.
Machiavelli is a good possibility for many who prefer to get positively devious. He has a strong synergy of Affect and Gold that makes him a risk always. Whereas he is probably not on the offensive each second, his capability to disregard Relationship Necessities to declare wars means even allies aren’t secure from a stab within the again.
Even his obvious energy stage could be misleading, as because of his capability to realize a variety of Gold from Diplomatic Actions made along with his Affect, he should buy significant navy drive rapidly. On prime of that, he has the very highly effective capability to levy items from Metropolis-States he isn’t Suzerain of. He’s not finest at taking up robust armies and must be thought of in his actions, however he excels at a smash-and-grab playstyle, even on the expense of his associates.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Achieve 3 free Ranges in your first Military Commander.+20% Commander expertise.+10% Science in Cities in Tropical Areas. This bonus is doubled whereas in a Formal Warfare you declare.
Trung Trac is the grasp of using the highly effective new Military Commander items. These items allow you to command a number of items without delay whereas offering them with highly effective bonuses. Whereas they aren’t essentially the strongest to start with, the extra ranges they get, the extra of a deciding issue they turn into. Trung Trac not solely will get 20% Commander Expertise, however her Commanders spawn with three free ranges. This could make for some fairly sizeable spikes in navy energy that may affect wars. If her Commanders get actually highly effective and get a number of Commendations too, her armies can be among the strongest on the map.
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She additionally will get a pleasant increase to Science on Tropical Areas, a whopping 20% boostwhen at conflict, supercharging the formidable Science and Navy combo. That stated, it’s map-dependent, as she’s going to want entry to these Tropical tiles.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
+1 Commerce Route restrict with all different leaders.+50 Tradition and 100 Gold per Age whenever you create a Commerce Route or Street.+1 Tradition and Gold per Age on Distinctive Buildings and Distinctive Enhancements.
Xerxes, The Achaemenid has entry to a pleasant number of yields and advantages. The 100 Gold and 50 Tradition he will get from creating Commerce Routes and Roads are glorious and may give you huge spikes of each in case you arrange a number of across the similar time. Contemplating he will get entry to 1 further Commerce Route too for every Chief, there’s a good synergy right here.
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That’s solely helped by his buff to Tradition and Gold on Distinctive Buildings and Enhancements. Make no mistake, this can be a huge quantity of each, and when utilized correctly, it’s very, very robust.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
+1 Useful resource Capability in Cities.+1 Gold per Age for every Useful resource assigned to Cities.+5 Fight Power on all Items in Plains or Desert.
Amina is unquestionably an honest Chief who does effectively with Sources. Sources are highly effective in Civilization 7, so accessing extra is just not a nasty factor. Whereas the +1 capability is good to have, the +1 Gold per Age for every Useful resource assigned to Cities is a superb Gold generator.
After all, you’ll need to get entry to as many Sources as doable whereas housing them too, so that’s the place your sport plan must be targeted. Her Items getting a +5 Fight Power on all Items in Plains or Desert is a bit situational, nevertheless it might are available clutch in the suitable circumstances.
B-Tier: Catherine the Nice
+2 Tradition per Age on displayed Nice Works. Constructing with Nice Works slot achieve 1 further slot.Cities settled in Tundra achieve Science equal to a share of their Tradition per flip.
Catherine the Nice is usually a fantastic producer of Tradition. Displaying Nice Works is part of the Tradition Legacy Path, so her having access to further slots to show them could be helpful when making an attempt to run by that as quick as doable. The Tradition increase for doing so will even feed extra Nice Works, making a pleasant suggestions loop.
That stated, she could be a little situational. Her cities being on Tundra do make for glorious Science output in tandem together with her Tradition technology. That stated, in case you can’t decide on Tundras or their barrenness finally ends up hurting you when it comes to assets, she could be a little trickier to make the most of.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Indirect
Military Commanders begin with the Benefit Commendation, granting them further Command Radius. Achieve an Infantry Unit whenever you assemble a Science Constructing.
The Indirect model of Friedrich is probably going his higher possibility, although he’s nonetheless removed from one of the best within the sport. That isn’t to say he isn’t with out advantage although. Military Commanders are robust Items and the Benefit Commendations present essentially the most highly effective results amongst them. Beginning with a type of is an effective option to increase your military’s energy early on. The extra Command Radius is as highly effective as any buffs and debuffs, permitting you to have an effect on extra Items.
He can also get an Infantry Unit when setting up a Science Constructing, which is a pleasant incentive to place your Gold and Manufacturing into these. That stated, he has no entry to Science, Affect, or Tradition buffs. Even for a scientific-focused Civilization, he can find yourself hurting his viability a bit as he’ll probably lag behind different specialists.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Achieve 2 Wildcard Attribute Factors after the primary Civic in each Age.+1 Sight for all Items.Achieve a singular Endeavor referred to as Commerce Maps that permits you to step by step see different Leaders’ Explored space.
Ibn Battuta might turn into a strong Civilization if performed appropriately, although he’s so versatile, his strengths is probably not obvious to these undecided how you can make the most of Attribute Factors. Getting 2 of those after the primary Civic in every Age means that he’s versatile, and may spec himself into the state of affairs he finds himself in. That stated, with that flexibility comes extra selection and complexity that could be a bit of unwieldy for brand spanking new gamers.
Likewise, his visibility of the map granted from stealing different Explored areas and the additional sight from items is one thing that may be highly effective in skilled fingers. Nonetheless that worth won’t be obvious to these much less versed in how you can make use of that info. He brings quite a bit to the desk and could be very versatile. Simply make certain you understand how to make the most of that.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Achieve a singular Endeavor referred to as Reform, which grants an extra Social Coverage slot. Supporting this Endeavor additionally grants the opposite chief an extra Social Coverage Slot.+1 Fight Power for each Custom, however not Coverage, slotted into Authorities.+1 Tradition and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands.
Lafayette has entry to some good traits, although they aren’t essentially the most eye-catching in isolation. Him with the ability to use Reform to get further Social Coverage Slots is good, and will help present yield boosts. The +1 Fight Power he will get from Traditions too is nothing to smell at. That stated, even with yield-focused insurance policies, he might battle to maintain up with extra specialised Leaders.
The +1 to Tradition and Happiness per Age, which is doubled in Distant Lands, is a very unconditional buff although. That’s good to have. This all comes collectively to make him an excellent Civilization, with a pleasant collection of good traits, although nothing right here is totally compelling right here by itself.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Achieve a singular Sanction referred to as Continental System that reduces the Commerce Route restrict of the focused Chief to all different Leaders. Causes huge Relationship penalty, and prices extra to reject.+8 Gold per Age for each Chief you’re Unfriendly or Hostile with.Can reject endeavors for Free.
Napoleon, Emperor is for many who like being a little bit of a brat. He will get advantages from being a troll, gaining an excellent +8 Gold for each Chief he’s Unfriendly or Hostile with. That may be quite a bit if he’s annoying everybody. His Continental System Sanction messes with different civilizations’ capability to commerce, making it a wonderful choice to tick off his neighbors.
The issue is available in managing that hate. This implies will probably be very exhausting to enter into Endeavors, and even preserve Open Borders with these round you. After all, it should additionally paint an infinite goal in your again. Since he gives no buffs to his Items militarily, that’s a harmful sport. So, in case you’re going to be a jerk to everybody, be sure to have the military to again it up simply in case the implications of your actions catch as much as you.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
+1 Motion for all Land Items.Defending an enemy unit gives Tradition equal to 50% p.c of its Fight Power.
Napoleon, Revolutionary is an fascinating Chief. All of his land items get +1 motion which is useful when making an attempt to each traverse giant areas, in addition to being nimble when maneuvering round enemy items.
Nonetheless, the way you make the most of his different trait is probably going going to be what decides in case you do effectively with him or not. Tradition equal to 50% of enemy Fight Power when defending could be very spikey, supplying you with a variety of Tradition if you end up defending a number of instances per flip. Nonetheless, to make one of the best of this, you’ll want to end up on this place comparatively typically. Which means you’re going to need to be frightening enemies, however holding your floor. It’s a fairly distinctive playstyle and could also be a bit awkward for some. But when used effectively, it may very well be a giant supply of Tradition. Simply count on to be placing different assets into sustaining your military as you regularly take hits.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
+1 Meals and Manufacturing per Age in Settlements for each Metropolis-State you’re Suzerain of.+1 Fight Power for all of your Items for each Metropolis-State you’re Suzerin of.
Tecumseh has the potential to be excellent, however it should want time and setup. He’s all about turning into the Suzerain of Metropolis-States. In the event you can rack up three or 4 of those, that’s a big bonus to Meals and Manufacturing, in addition to Fight Power.
The difficulty is that turning into a Suzerain takes a variety of Affect and he doesn’t have an inherent trait that helps. So he’ll want an excellent pairing with a Civilization, Coverage, and Buildings/Districts to facilitate this. On prime of that, it should simply take time so that you can get the Affect you want and persuade these states they need to come underneath your wing. Nonetheless, when you have the infrastructure for it, the rewards could be pure and constant worth.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Achieve a singular Endeavor referred to as Good friend of Wei that may be carried out in an Alliance to grant you and your ally +25% Science.+4 Science per Age for each Chief you’re Pleasant or Useful with.Can help Endeavors totally free.
Himiko, Queen of Wa is the other of Napoleon, Emperor. She is all about being everybody’s finest pal, and in case you can keep that, you’ll reap monumental advantages. The +4 Science per Age for each Chief you’re Pleasant or Useful with is simply helped by the Good friend of Wei Endeavor. Multiply that by a number of allies, and that’s severe Science manufacturing.
Nonetheless, you do must be a bit of cautious with it too. Be sure that being good to everybody doesn’t come at the price of your defensive navy. Your Technological advances and sunny demeanor might make others jealous, so don’t get caught out considering everyone seems to be your pal. That may exit the window rapidly when they need what you will have.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Achieve a Nice Work whenever you seize a Settlement for the primary time. Achieve an Infantry Unit whenever you assemble a Tradition Constructing.
Friedrich, Baroque has two traits and neither is especially robust or distinct. Gaining a Nice Work for capturing a Settlement for the primary time is first rate, however is unlikely to outright allow you to win video games. In a subject of very robust Chief traits, this feels merely ‘effective’.
Gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing a Tradition Constructing can be helpful, and will help gas your navy ambitions, nevertheless it’s not precisely going to make up for having no yield bonuses right here. There are simply many stronger choices on the subject of Tradition and your Navy.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
All Buildings achieve a +1 Meals adjacency bonus for Mountains. Specialists adjoining to Mountains don’t value Happiness upkeep
Pachacuti is just not a nasty Chief. The truth is, in some video games, he could be distinctive. The issue is, he may do subsequent to nothing if the map hasn’t favored you. To excel, you want Mountains. If he can settle close to them, then he’ll get good entry to an excellent quantity of Meals and have little downside from Specialists. That may be actually good, particularly when paired with Civilizations that make the most of Mountains too.
The issue is, that’s a strict requirement. With out Mountains, he gives little else, so in case you spawn on a map with none round you, you’re out of luck. After all, you can begin over, or transfer the map sliders in your favor earlier than selecting him, however if you would like a impartial expertise the place you begin and play on a standard map, know you’re rolling the cube whenever you begin.
Patrick is a a contract journalist with over 13 years of expertise who loves going deep on video games and entering into their methods. His four-figure hours into each Overwatch 2 and Future 2 are a testomony to that.
