Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Switch 2 Cheats and Walkthrough

What Cheat Codes and Easter Eggs Are Found in Sid Meier’s Civilization VII for Switch 2?

If you are starting out in Civilization VII on Switch 2, you might be hoping for some handy cheat codes to speed up your progress or just make sessions more fun.

The civilization series used to have more cheat codes and console commands on PC, but the Switch 2 version of Civilization VII currently does not support traditional cheat codes that you can enter directly.

Instead, many players look for easter eggs, leader secrets, and tricks within the game that can give you a fun little boost or a different gameplay experience.

For example, you can rename your cities to unlock hidden achievements, or use certain map seeds that are shared online to get really favorable starting positions and abundant resources.

Fans have noticed that using the map seed “42” tends to spawn a world with lots of land bridges and abundant luxury resources, which can let your civilization flourish more easily early on.

Another fun easter egg is naming your capital “Washington” while playing as America, which causes special dialogue from some world leaders, adding a personal touch to your campaign.

Some people share new map seeds and secrets every week on Reddit and gaming forums, so if you like hunting for new advantages, checking those out can give you a big edge.

If you are interested in similar fun secrets in other board and video games, there’s a really helpful list for family nights at this family board game guide that’s worth checking out too.

Useful Walkthrough Tips for Civilization VII on Switch 2

If you might be struggling to get past a certain era or just want ideas to play better, a focused walkthrough can really help in Civilization VII.

One thing many beginners overlook is the opening turns—building a Scout before anything else helps you reveal tribal villages and city states, giving your civilization early bonuses.

If you find moving between screens a bit slow on the Switch 2, adjusting the UI settings for quick move and quick combat in the game options can save a lot of time and make campaigns go smoother.

City placement is still key—try to settle near rivers for extra food and production, as this makes it much less stressful to grow your cities and keep your citizens happy.

Something else you might find helpful is to focus on one victory type from the start—whether it is science, culture, domination, or diplomacy—so you do not get distracted by too many side goals at once.

If you enjoy challenging yourself, you can try the “One City Challenge” where you never create a settler, which can change your whole strategy and makes each decision matter even more.

These tips are similar to strategies used in other top strategy games, and there is a nice breakdown of how different strategy games test your planning skills in this strategy game roundup if you are curious about which ones to try next.

Are There Mods or External Tools That Can Help You?

Since Switch 2 does not officially support modding for Civilization VII like PC does, your main helpers will be guides, controller accessories, and visual aids for planning your civilization layouts.

If you sometimes find yourself wishing the controls were a little more precise, some players go for the 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller, which is compatible with Switch 2 and offers extra customizable back buttons.

The 8BitDo Pro 2 gets a lot of good feedback for helping people play longer sessions in strategy games without finger cramps or missed inputs, because of its more ergonomic shape compared to the standard Joy-Con grips.

If you check out gaming forums, people say it works great with strategy titles and loves how the analog sticks feel more precise for moving around the map, which makes selecting tiny hexes easier.

Pros

• Ergonomic grip lessens hand fatigue during long play sessions
• Customizable buttons let you map commands for quicker access
• Works wirelessly and has long battery life

Cons

• Slightly larger design may not fit smaller carrying cases
• Requires a separate app for full customization of functions

For those who enjoy using guides, the Prima Games Official Strategy Guide for Civilization VII (when available) can be handy if you like having reference pages for all the wonders, technologies, and civics.

Sometimes flipping through the guide during play can make it easier to pick the next tech or wonder without pausing your game to browse menus.

People say the index is pretty thorough, and there are lots of illustrations and empire planning layouts, so if you love playing with a book nearby this can really help.

Pros

• Detailed leader, tech, and unit breakdowns in one place
• Easy to spot strategies for different victory conditions
• Handy quick-reference charts for wonders and districts

Cons

• Physical guide may go out of date with post-launch patches
• Extra weight to carry around if you play on-the-go

Screen magnifiers like the Keten Switch OLED Screen Magnifier can be surprising helpers if you play in handheld mode and like to see more detail on your cities and units.

The Keten magnifier is especially useful if you like playing on the go, and people have said that it makes small interface elements less stressful on the eyes, which is helpful during long games.

The base of the magnifier clips right onto the console, and it is easy to remove, so you only use it when you want extra clarity for busy maps.

Pros

• Boosts text and icon size making reading easier
• Simple clip-on design for portability
• No batteries needed for operation

Cons

• May add a little weight to your handheld
• Can make glare worse if playing under direct lights

Should You Use Online Resources and Companion Apps for Civilization VII?

You might find that using online resources alongside Civilization VII can make your playthroughs more enjoyable and even help you feel less overwhelmed by big decision points.

Websites like CivFanatics and the official Civilization subreddit are packed with up-to-date tier lists, leader matchups, and map seeds, and people often share screenshots so you can copy starting locations or city layouts if you want to test out new tactics on your Switch 2.

If you sometimes miss out on which wonders or technologies you should aim for, there are companion mobile apps like Civ VI Companion, which even though designed mainly for Civ VI, offer helpful planning tools that remain useful for VII as well.

These kinds of apps let you calculate science or culture requirements, look up district adjacency bonuses, and track progress toward different win conditions without breaking from your main game window, which saves a lot of scrolling through in-game menus.

It is said that users like having the leader information on the app because it makes diplomacy easier and helps when balancing multiple wars or alliances at once.

If you like to study up on other game genres that also focus on planning and resource management, much like Civilization, there is a good comparison of relaxing strategy experiences at relaxing and calm games which might give you ideas for what to play next if you want something with a similar pace.

How Can You Make Multiplayer and Hotseat More Fun on Switch 2?

If you prefer to play with friends or family, the Switch 2 version of Civilization VII makes local and online multiplayer more accessible, but there are a few quirks to keep in mind for a smoother experience.

One thing that adds to the fun is using voice chat apps like Discord or even a simple phone call, as it makes negotiating trades and alliances more lively and avoids the awkwardness of waiting for chat messages in-game.

If you enjoy passing controllers for hotseat games, investing in a simple Nintendo Switch Adjustable Charging Stand can make longer multiplayer sessions much more comfortable, especially if you are playing on a tabletop or during a group hangout.

People say the official Nintendo stand is steady, and it allows the charging cord to run out the back, so you do not have to pause when the battery gets low mid-session.

Besides improved battery life, having the display propped up at a good angle means people can better see enemy troop movements, which reduces mistakes during tense moments.

Pros

• Solid construction holds up during longer sessions
• Lets you play and charge the console at once
• Adjustable height suits different players and rooms

Cons

• Only fits the console and not the Pro Controller at the same time
• Takes up a little more space in a bag or case

For online play, make sure both parties have updated their games, as there can be version mismatch issues that cause disconnects in multiplayer lobbies.

If you are curious about more social games which are especially fun for groups, there is another set of recommendations at games for large groups that gives some lighthearted options if you are looking for something with less commitment than a long Civ campaign.

What Strategies Work for Different Leaders and Civilizations?

It might feel confusing to pick the best leader if you are new to Civilization VII, but a few general approaches can boost your odds no matter which civ you start with.

If you roll leaders like Qin Shi Huang or Theodore Roosevelt, you will find that building wonders early pays off as both get big bonuses that stack quickly if you focus your cities on production districts and builders.

Some people say it is helpful to check each leader’s agenda in the diplomacy menu at the start of the game, because doing the opposite of what they want can quickly lead to wars or alliances, which affects your success a lot in the first 100 turns.

For scientific victories, going with leaders who have bonuses to campus districts or tech research means you should rush to settle near mountains and rainforests, as these placements help boost your outputs and let you finish the space race projects faster than rivals.

If you are focused on domination wins, leaders with unique early units like Alexander or Genghis Khan can blitz nearby opponents, but make sure to keep your economy going or it will be hard to keep cities loyal with just military might.

If you want a different kind of challenge, try selecting random leaders and using only the “recommended” build orders provided by the game, which is a fun way to mix things up if you usually stick to the same playstyle.

Trying out different victory strategies is very similar to learning tactics from other strategy-focused tabletop experiences, and you might enjoy picking up new habits by looking at turn-based classics like Go, covered at this Go guide for a fresh perspective on sequential decision making.

How to Get Past Late Game Stalls and Resource Problems

You might find that as your Civilization VII campaign gets into the later eras, it gets harder to manage amenities, housing, and enemy spies because the game becomes a lot busier and the AI gets more active.

People mention that setting city production queues and keeping a notepad or mobile checklist nearby can help keep track of what each city should be building so you do not get lost after a few turns away.

Trading away excess resources, especially luxury resources you do not need, can keep your citizens happier for longer, and it is a good idea to always make extra copies if you aim for a diplomatic or cultural victory.

If you feel like you keep running out of gold late in the game, consider switching a city to Commercial Hubs and trade routes rather than squeezing out another wonder, as even a small gold boost lets you buy important late units or buildings in a hurry.

Consistent, smaller wars are often easier to handle than huge, sprawling global conflicts, because the penalties for grievances and loyalty pressure from captured cities can stall your advance, making defense and diplomacy just as important as offense the further your empire stretches.

Ways to Stay Motivated and Avoid Burnout in Longer Civilization VII Games

You might find that after the excitement of the early game, it is actually pretty common to feel a little burnt out during the modern eras when each turn takes longer and your to-do list gets bigger.

One easy way to avoid decision fatigue is to set mini-goals for yourself between eras, like finishing a particular wonder, unlocking a new government, or forming a certain alliance, so victories and milestones come more often and keep things feeling fresh.

Taking short breaks or swapping out with a friend during hotseat mode can also stop things from feeling too heavy, and sometimes just sharing strategies with someone else brings new life to your approach.

You might even switch up your settings and play with the game speed—sometimes switching to quick or online speed can make late eras less grindy and stops both you and the AI from getting bogged down in micromanagement.

Some people like to spice things up by trying random map types (like “Fractal” or “Continents and Islands”) or adjusting map size, which can lead to more surprises mid-game than simply sticking to what feels familiar every time.

When it starts getting tedious, keeping a notepad or using the Switch 2’s screenshot tool to track your broader plans can help you resume your game later without forgetting what you were aiming for.

Mixing in other lighter games between Civilization VII sessions can also help keep things enjoyable, and you might find a favorite among those covered in suggestions for engaging games with kids that bring a totally different vibe than multi-hour Civ marathons.

Best Ways to Manage Time and Make Each Civilization VII Session Count

If you sometimes end up losing hours to just one more turn, you might benefit from some little time-management tricks that can help keep your sessions satisfying and not overwhelming.

It is a good habit to choose a stopping point at the beginning of your session, like reaching a new era, a big research milestone, or finishing a World Congress vote, so you always finish on a high and look forward to coming back next time.

Using the Switch 2’s sleep mode makes it easy to exit the game instantly, and players like that this means you do not have to wait for long save times or worry about losing progress if you only have a short window to play.

If you like to set a timer or reminder on your phone, that can also help you check in and avoid staying up way past your bedtime or accidentally missing other plans, especially during those marathon late-night sessions.

Keeping a snack or drink nearby and stretching every so often makes a difference for your focus and mood, turning a long session into more of a treat than a chore, especially when you are deep into the late game planning.

How to Make the Most of Deals and Save Money Playing Civilization VII

You may be interested in saving a bit of cash while getting ready to jump into Civilization VII or accessorize your Switch 2 setup, whether by purchasing new gear, official guides, or even extra expansion content.

Checking for official Nintendo eShop sales and bundled deals will often save you more than paying for each DLC individually, and people suggest waiting for Twilight sales or holiday discounts as the best time to snag expansions for much less.

If you plan to buy accessories like controllers or magnifiers, you might want to price check across different online retailers and keep an eye out for Sony, PowerA, or official Nintendo brand sales (sometimes even warehouse deals pop up at better prices).

For physical items like the Prima Games Strategy Guide or Switch charging stands, looking at pre-owned options from trusted sellers can mean you pay less and still get something in great condition.

Signing up for Nintendo rewards points or Amazon discounts can also help you save a few extra bucks on digital or physical purchases, so keep an eye on your loyalty programs.

If you want more ideas on playing together for less, you can find recommendations that many people have found practical in lists for party gaming that do not require spending a lot just to have a good time.

Main Takeaways to Enjoy Civilization VII on Switch 2

If you are new or returning to the Civilization series on Switch 2, getting the most fun and success often comes down to combining practical tips with the right tools and play style.

While the absence of classic cheat codes might be a letdown, leveraging map seeds, easter eggs, mods if available, and a few handy accessories can go a long way toward making sessions smoother and more enjoyable.

Adapting your strategy to fit leaders, using online resources, and managing your time and motivations helps keep things fresh no matter how many campaigns you finish.

It is not just about finishing a game, but having a good experience along the way, and sometimes that means changing your pace, your approach, or even what you play on your next game night with friends or family.

For anyone looking to sharpen their tactical thinking outside of digital games, you might find new habits and fun challenges from tabletop and board games too, which helps boost your enjoyment of strategy gaming in general.