Civilization VII’s map types mainly differ in how they arrange continents, islands, and starting regions. Choose Continents and Islands for two major landmasses, Pangaea and Islands for one, Shuffle for more variation, Terra Incognita for one more predictable continent-style home region, or True Start Location Earth for historic-capital starts on a handcrafted map. Map options can vary by version and platform, so check the selector in your game.
How to choose a map in Civilization VII
Map type and size are selected during game setup; multiplayer offers similar setup choices. The layout affects how readily players can reach one another, how much island exploration a match may involve, and whether starting locations follow a historical pattern or a procedural layout. These are implications of the stated map designs, not guarantees about the exact geography of an individual generated game.
For multiplayer, confirm platform compatibility before settling on a setup. In crossplay games involving Nintendo Switch, the map-size and player-count options must match Switch’s available options. 2K’s game-modes guide covers setup and platform constraints.
At a glance
| Map type | Major layout | Starting-region predictability | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continents and Islands | Two large continents plus islands | Procedural; the broad two-continent pattern is the defining feature | A split-landmass game with island exploration |
| Pangaea and Islands | One large continent plus islands | Procedural; one main continent is the defining feature | A more connected central landmass |
| Pangaea Plus | One central landmass, with Distant Lands islands around it | All civilizations begin on the central landmass | A shared starting region and later island exploration |
| Shuffle | Two main areas, drawn from different map-generation styles | Varies; the two areas can match, but Firaxis says this is uncommon | Players who want less predictable geography |
| Terra Incognita | One Continents-style region and one randomized region | More predictable on one side; human players start on the Continents side when possible | A known home region alongside an unknown one |
| True Start Location Earth | Handcrafted, Huge-scale approximation of Earth | Starts are based on each civilization’s historic capital | Historically situated starts |
| Fractal Continent | Exact layout recipe not stated in the cited announcement | Not stated | Players looking to try a newer map option |
Procedural maps
Continents and Islands
This map uses two large continents with islands. It is the more natural choice when you want a divided main landmass rather than one continuous continent. Firaxis’s indexed summary of its map-generation explanation associates this type with the studio’s newer Voronoi-based approach. The exact shapes and positions vary from game to game.
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Pangaea and Islands
Pangaea and Islands places one large continent among surrounding islands. Compared with Continents and Islands, the important distinction is the number of major landmasses, not the presence or absence of islands: both include islands. Choose it if you prefer a more connected central region. Firaxis also groups this type with its Voronoi-based generation approach.
Pangaea Plus
Pangaea Plus puts every civilization on one large central landmass and designates surrounding islands as Distant Lands for all players. Those islands contain Treasure Resources during the Exploration Age, giving the outer region a specific role beyond simply extending the coastline. The map’s defining feature is therefore a common central start followed by a distinct distant-land opportunity. See the May 27, 2025 official patch notes for Firaxis’s description.
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Shuffle
Shuffle builds two main regions using different map scripts. Update 1.5.0 lists four possible styles: Continents, Fractal Continents, Archipelago, and Shattered Seas. The two regions can use the same style, though Firaxis says that outcome is uncommon. Shuffle suits players who want the broad shape of a map to be less foreseeable, rather than a particular landmass arrangement.
Terra Incognita
Terra Incognita is a Shuffle variant with a guaranteed Continents-style region and a second region generated at random. The second region is much less likely to be Continents again. When possible, human players begin on the Continents side, making the home region more predictable than Shuffle’s while leaving the other side open to surprise.
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Firaxis says Update 1.5.0 reworked both Shuffle and Terra Incognita with Voronoi technology. Its notes describe this as completing the process of updating all base-game maps. Because map generation and availability can change with updates, the in-game selector is the best way to confirm what your installed version offers. Firaxis’s Update 1.5.0 notes are dated September 15, 2026.
Handcrafted historical map
True Start Location Earth
True Start Location Earth is a handcrafted Huge map that approximates Earth’s terrain, rivers, resources, and Natural Wonder locations. Every campaign begins in Antiquity, and each civilization starts near the historic capital associated with that civilization. Unlike the procedural types above, it is designed around a recognizable real-world geography and historical placement.
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Firaxis’s September 15, 2026 Update 1.5.0 description says major waterways such as the Nile and Amazon are Navigable Rivers. Each generated map has seven Natural Wonders drawn from a randomized pool. Firaxis also adjusted the layout to reduce Tundra and empty Ocean tiles and enlarge some areas, including Europe, Hawaii, and Japan, to make starts more workable. These details are from the update notes, not a promise that each map’s exact wonder selection or terrain is identical.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about Fractal Continent?
The May 20, 2026 Test of Time announcement confirms Fractal Continent as a map type, but does not give a detailed recipe for its landmass layout. It is safe to say the option exists; a precise continent count, coastline pattern, or starting-region rule is not established by that announcement. Consult the current in-game selector for availability on your platform and version. 2K’s Test of Time announcement confirms its addition.
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Why map descriptions may change
Firaxis has revised map generation over the life of Civilization VII. Its newer Voronoi approach changes how landmasses grow compared with an earlier method that used fractal noise across the map. The official explanation associates Voronoi generation with Continents and Islands and Pangaea and Islands; Update 1.5.0 says Shuffle and Terra Incognita were also reworked using it.
There is no single confirmed cross-platform list in the cited official sources that guarantees every map selector is identical. Legacy or other base map types may appear, and options can vary by platform or game version. Treat the types described here as confirmed distinctions, not a promise that every installation shows exactly this list.
Quick Recap
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