This isn’t a gaming hot-news site and I won’t report the release of Civilization VI as a front-page event. Here we talk about titles that leave something behind — or about aspects that make them special. And Civilization VI, released on 21 October 2016, has one aspect that absolutely deserves to be talked about: its soundtrack.

Christopher Tin and the Lyrics of Leonardo Da Vinci

The main theme of Civilization VI is called Sogno di Volare and is composed once again by Christopher Tin — the same author of Baba Yetu, the memorable Civ IV soundtrack that in 2011 became the first piece composed for a video game to win a Grammy Award. The lyrics of this new composition are drawn from the works of Leonardo Da Vinci.

When I first read about it, I dismissed it as yet another commercial bandwagon: big orchestra, a few lines from a Renaissance genius, impressive music to drive sales. I understood the logic perfectly.

Then I took a trip to YouTube, found a trailer version with all the lyrics subtitled, hit play… and sat mesmerised for 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Because it really is beautiful.

Why It Works

It works because the idea at the heart of the game is beautiful, and Tin mirrors it perfectly. Sogno di Volare speaks of the history of humanity and of “Civilisation” — of a humanity devoted to discovery, change, progress. With all the stumbles, wars and atrocities of centuries upon centuries, yet one that has always retained the nature of looking higher, of growing, of trying to reach for the stars.

A little romantic? Perhaps. But among hundreds of games where you slaughter aliens with weapons of every kind (all enormously fun, let’s be clear!) there’s one with a stunning soundtrack, lyrics written by a universal Renaissance talent, and which in the trailer had the courage to present Gandhi as an example of that “Civilisation” it speaks of. I’d be mad not to share it with you.