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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallChoose a Civilization VII map by the geography you want: Pangaea-style maps concentrate play on a large central landmass, Continents and Islands spreads play across continents and smaller islands, Shuffle increases variation, and True Start Location Earth places civilizations in historical regions. The map options and their behavior can change with updates; the details below reflect Firaxis’s Update 1.5.0 notes, published September 15, 2026.
Choose a map for the kind of geography you want
Map type is the key first choice if you want to shape the broad layout and uncertainty of a new game. These options describe different generation approaches, not a complete inventory of every setup control or map currently available in every game version.
| Map type | What the geography favors | Good fit if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Continents and Islands | Large continents accompanied by natural islands; ocean-separated continents and islands count as Distant Lands. | Several substantial landmasses plus smaller islands. |
| Pangaea and Islands | One large continent with natural islands; ocean-separated islands count as Distant Lands. | A shared central landmass with islands beyond it. |
| Pangaea Plus | All civilizations start on one large central landmass. Surrounding islands are Distant Lands and contain Treasure Resources in the Exploration Age. | A common starting continent and distant islands to explore later. |
| Shuffle | Two main areas are generated using different possible map scripts, including Continents, Fractal Continents, Archipelago, and Shattered Seas. | More variation in the layout from one game to the next. |
| Terra Incognita | One region is guaranteed to use Continents-style generation; the other is randomized. When possible, human players start on the Continents side. | A more dependable Antiquity homeland with a less predictable other region. |
| True Start Location Earth | Historical civilization starting locations across three major regions: the Americas, Africa and Eurasia, and Oceania. The regions remain Distant Lands from one another until Exploration. | A historically located Earth map, subject to strict setup limits. |
| Shattered Seas | Confirmed as a map type in Update 1.3.1; Firaxis’s source cited here does not describe its full generation behavior. | A map type to consider if it appears in your setup menu; its specific layout is not established here. |
When to choose Pangaea or Continents and Islands
Pangaea maps: start together on a main landmass
Pangaea and Islands is the straightforward choice if you want a large shared continent while keeping natural islands in the world. Pangaea Plus is more specific: Firaxis says all civilizations start on one large central landmass, while the surrounding islands are Distant Lands and contain Treasure Resources during the Exploration Age. That makes it a fit for players who want a common starting region and islands farther afield.
Continents and Islands: combine large landmasses and islands
Choose Continents and Islands for large continents accompanied by natural islands. Because ocean-separated continents and islands count as Distant Lands, the map offers a different broad layout from a single shared central continent.
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When to choose Shuffle or Terra Incognita
Shuffle: prioritize variation between games
The current Voronoi version of Shuffle creates two main areas, each procedurally based on a different possible map script. Firaxis lists Continents, Fractal Continents, Archipelago, and Shattered Seas as possible styles. Pick it when you want less certainty about the kind of layout a new game will produce.
Terra Incognita: keep one region predictable
Terra Incognita is a Shuffle variant. It guarantees that one region is generated like Continents, while the other is randomized; when possible, human players start on the Continents side. It is the more suitable choice if you want a more dependable Antiquity homeland but still want uncertainty in the other region.
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Firaxis added Voronoi versions of both Shuffle and Terra Incognita in Update 1.5.0. Earlier or later versions may differ.
What to know before choosing True Start Location Earth
True Start Location Earth uses historical civilization starting locations rather than ordinary randomized placement. Firaxis describes three major regions—the Americas, Africa and Eurasia, and Oceania—that remain Distant Lands from one another until the Exploration Age. This is not a map where every region is connected or ordinarily adjacent at the start.
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- It is available only at Huge map size.
- It starts in Antiquity.
- Advanced Starts are not supported.
- Some closely spaced civilizations may be reassigned to another unused true-start location.
These restrictions make it a specialized choice: select it for historical geography, not if you need a smaller map or an Advanced Start. The feature arrived with Update 1.5.0.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use this guide with the in-game setup menu
Use the map-type descriptions to decide on broad geography, then check the current game setup screen for availability and any controls not covered here. This guide does not establish a complete control-by-control list of setup values. Firaxis says Update 1.5.0 also updated map generation and improved resource placement, so setting-specific behavior can change with patches.
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What is confirmed about Shattered Seas?
Firaxis confirmed Shattered Seas as a map type in Update 1.3.1, and later listed it among possible generation styles for Shuffle. The official descriptions cited here do not provide enough detail to say exactly how a standalone Shattered Seas map lays out its land and water. If you are choosing it directly, treat the setup menu and the generated map in your installed version as the relevant guide rather than assuming a more specific layout.
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