Technology Tree

Lore & Background

The narrative of the Civilization series is built on the accumulation of knowledge, starting from a single tier with limited options. As players "tech up," they traverse a path where every technology above the start requires multiple prerequisites. This structure forces a cumulative journey; one cannot simply jump to the top level without researching most lower-level technologies first. The tree branches between each tier, forcing leaders to choose specific sequences that define their civilization's trajectory. While some strategy games allow players to research all the way up in one isolated area without touching others, Civilization demands a broad foundation of knowledge. This interconnected web ensures that history is not just a list of inventions but a complex dependency chain where past discoveries enable future breakthroughs, reflecting the reality that progress rarely happens in isolation.

In Their Own Story

Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) stands as an iconic turn-based strategy game for utilizing this mechanism, following the credit given to Francis Tresham's board game Civilization (1980). The journey begins at tier 1, offering only a few options. As players engage in research activities, they "move up the tech tree," unlocking new possibilities with each discovery. In the early turns, choices are scarce, but as the player advances, the branches multiply. Unlike games like Master of Orion where one could research to the highest level in one area without touching others, or Space Empires where reaching a specified level in one field unlocks a new field, the Civilization series demands a wider net. To reach the final technologies, players must have researched most lower-level options, ensuring that the path from ancient tools to modern marvels is a continuous chain of dependencies rather than a collection of isolated leaps.

Reader's Guide

To succeed in Civilization, players must analyze the tech tree to memorize specific build orders. The process starts at tier 1, where only a few research options exist. Each technology researched opens new paths, but the structure requires that every technology above the start has more than one prerequisite. This means you cannot reach top-level technologies without first researching most of the lower-level ones. In contrast to simpler trees found in Master of Orion, or complex branching like Space Empires where a level in one field enables a higher level in that same field and a new field entirely, Civilization's tree is deeply interwoven. Players must balance their path carefully; while some games allow specialization in one area, here the prerequisites force a broader exploration of lower tiers before accessing advanced capabilities.

Did You Know?

• Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) is considered an iconic computer turn-based strategy game for using technology trees.
• The board game Civilization by Francis Tresham (1980) is typically given credit for introducing the technology tree concept.
• In the Civilization series, every technology above the starting level has more than one prerequisite.
• Players engaged in research are described as "teching up" or "moving up the tech tree."
• Unlike some strategy games, the full technology tree is available to all cultures in the Civilization series.