And it’ll take a very long time to get them all. According to Steam’s numbers, less than one in a thousand Civ 6 fans actually have the patience to put in the work and pull off every one of these challenges. Whether you’re thinking of tackling this herculean task or just hunting for a few to add to your repertoire of digital badges of honor, you should make a road map to make it a more enjoyable experience. So let’s look at some of the most fun (and funny) achievements in Civilization 6.
10. Elcano’s Revenge
Everyone remembers Ferdinand Magellan as the first sailor explorer to circle around the globe without going over land – but there’s a part of the story most people don’t remember. Elcano’s Revenge tasks the player with being the first to circumnavigate the map during a Civ 6 game – but only after the Great Admiral Magellan has already been recruited by someone else. It’s a bit of a historical joke based on the fact that, although the expedition that first circled around the world was started by Magellan, he died in combat with some natives along the way. The expedition went on under the leadership of Juan Sebastián Elcano, who lent his name to this funny achievement.
9. Rome if You Want To
The Roman Empire is a classic Civilization powerhouse that has appeared in every installment due to its massive fame and popularity among modern history buffs. Rome if You Want To simply tasks you with winning a game as the Roman Empire, and it’s the most common civ-specific achievement in the game. The reason? Playing as Trajan is a blast. You get Legions, a special Bath district, and a free Monument in every newly founded city! More importantly, every new city starts with a trading post and a road connecting to the capital. All roads lead to Rome!
8. Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition
Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition is a reference to a classic skit from Monty Python’s Flying Circus featuring three dudes dressed as Spanish Inquisitors popping in unannounced whenever their name gets invoked in vain. This well-known skit became a popular meme in recent years, and eventually made its way to Civ 6’s achievement list. To get it, you just need to train an Inquisitor and launch an Inquisition while playing Phillip II of Spain. Playing a religious game isn’t Civ 6’s most exciting aspect, but this is worth doing just for the meme.
7. More Hacksilver for Harald
The Norwegians are another great civilization with a unique playstyle that helps you justify a colossal navy through their ability to raid coastal settlements. In addition, they get to sail Ocean tiles much earlier than the rest. But that’s not why I’m including More Hacksilver for Harald on the ranking. You’ll only get this achievement by completing the Vikings, Traders, and Raiders! scenario as Norwegian leader Harald Hardrada. Few people even touch this naval combat-focused scenario, but it’s actually a delightful and unique way to enjoy Civ 6 that everyone should definitely tackle.
6. Wat is Love
I love gaming accomplishments that are so over-the-top that it’s actually hilarious. Wat is Love is the perfect example. This achievement is granted after a player builds the Angkor Wat world wonder and a regular Wat building in the Khmer city of Angkor Wat. The easiest way to do this is by playing as Jayavarman and rushing the Angkor Wat along with the religious belief that enables the construction of the Wat. An even more fun but difficult alternative is to out-Wat the Khmer by taking Angkor Wat from Jayavarman as another civ and giving them a taste of their own Wat.
5. Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Eleanor of Aquitaine is my favorite leader in Civilization 6, thanks to her unique playstyle that allows you to conquer the world without starting a war. The Queen Regent of France and England can significantly reduce the Loyalty of foreign cities in a 9-tile range of any French/English settlement with a Great Work. Eventually they’ll defect to Eleanor’s side. There’s nothing like doing this to a newbie and watching them fumble to raise their loyalty, oblivious to your political machinations. Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss, is a hilarious achievement granted after you use this mechanic to take a city from… another Eleanor of Aquitaine leading a different civilization.
4. Archimedes Bath
Is there anything more pleasurable than the sweet sound of a technology boost? Yes: five technology boosts in a row. Archimedes Bath tasks the player with triggering five Eureka moments on the same turn, which will thoroughly boost your technological advancement. There are two ways to do this. One is to carefully set things up so you’ll complete five Tech challenges on the same turn. This is probably the most fun, but also the most challenging route. Alternatively, you can rush the Great Library, which boosts all Ancient and Classical era technologies upon completion. There’s someone rushing this wonder on every game, so it’s a bit of a gamble, but the rewards are glorious!
3. You’re the Demonstrably Greatest
If you derive your enjoyment from overcoming impossible odds, there’s no better achievement than You’re the Demonstrably Greatest. To get it, you have to reach the highest possible rank in Conquests of Alexander while playing on Deity difficulty – a daunting task, even for wargame veterans. Conquests of Alexander’s timed and military-focused gameplay is a ton of fun by itself, but the added challenge of dominating the AI on the highest difficulty settings takes it to the next level.
2. For Queen and Country
England has always been a favorite of mine across the Civilization franchise. There’s just something about colonizing the world from a tiny island that makes you feel powerful. Civilization 6 gives Queen Victoria all the advantages she needs to achieve this. Not only can the English build the Royal Navy Dockyard and protect their Settlers with Sea Dogs, but every city (or RND) built on a different continent gets a free unit and a trade route slot to connect with the metropolis. For Queen and Country asks that you establish a worldwide Pax Brittanica by founding (or conquering) a city on every continent on a Huge map. This forces you to sacrifice close-range expansion and rush Seafaring technology. It’s a big challenge, but it’s also a unique and fun way to play.
1. I Thought We’d Moved Past This Joke
The most famous Civilization meme has to be Nuclear Gandhi. According to an internet legend, Gandhi used to be highly aggressive and prone to using nukes in the first few Civilization games. Apparently, the game’s code made it so Gandhi was so peaceful, he actually looped around and became a bloodthirsty warmonger. Civilization developers have since debunked this myth, but the legend lives on. It’s one of the strongest Mandela Effects I’ve ever seen. I Thought We’d Moved Past This Joke is a hilarious achievement granted to anyone launching a Nuclear weapon as Chandragupta’s India. Contrary to what you may believe, launching nukes is a lot of fun.
