In the realm of “Civilization 6”, amenities play a pivotal role in ensuring the growth, success, and overall satisfaction of your cities. Much like happiness in previous iterations of the game, amenities in Civ 6 gauge the contentment of your city’s inhabitants. Managing them adeptly can mean the difference between a flourishing civilization and one teetering on the brink of chaos.
Basic Understanding of Amenities
Amenities, at their core, signify the overall well-being and success of a city in “Civilization 6”. They function on a per-city basis. Every city in your empire carries its own distinct amenities value, which in turn influences the overall happiness of its residents.
In an ideal scenario, a city should have amenities equal to half its population to ensure its inhabitants remain content. When this equilibrium is maintained, the city won’t experience any negative or positive ramifications. However, if a city lacks the necessary amenities, this deficiency can have detrimental effects on both the city’s population and its productivity.
What does this mean in practice? Cities deprived of the required amenities can see displeased citizens. These citizens can, in turn, bring about setbacks like diminished growth rates and a drop in non-food yields such as production. The situation gets dire when a city has at least seven fewer amenities than it needs. In such scenarios, cities face revolt, which can manifest in severe penalties like the emergence of rebel units.
Viewing and Managing Amenities

Players need to be consistently vigilant when it comes to amenities. To get a clear picture of your city’s amenities status, you can access the city details panel. Here, you’ll get insights into the amenities available, their sources, and their effects on your city’s growth and productivity.
It’s essential to realize that amenities are localized. This means that improving the local area through tile modifications or building structures can positively influence a city’s happiness, but it doesn’t have a bearing on other cities. Furthermore, a surplus of amenities can bring about additional bonuses, enhancing the yields in a particular city.
Achieving a balance in amenities across all cities in your civilization is of utmost importance. Each city has distinct needs, and ensuring every city has an ample supply will pave the way for a successful and thriving civilization in the game.
Mechanics of Luxury Resources
Luxury resources scattered across the map are primary sources of amenities. Unlike in previous versions of the game where they benefited the entire empire, in Civ 6, they serve individual cities. Each luxury resource, be it gems, spices, or any other, provides +1 amenity, but it’s limited to a maximum of four cities. So, if you’ve got multiple copies of the same luxury resource, you don’t get extra amenities. Instead, trading them becomes a strategic move.
The way it works is relatively straightforward. When a luxury resource is connected to your empire, the initial four cities that are in dire need of amenities get the benefit. As you integrate more of these resources, the overall happiness of your empire witnesses a boost.
The Entertainment District and its Role
Delving deeper into the world of “Civilization 6”, it becomes abundantly clear that districts are not just about resource management and military might, they also significantly influence the living conditions of a city’s inhabitants. Among these, the Entertainment District stands out as a beacon of happiness, or more aptly put, a source of amenities.
Strategically positioning the Entertainment District within a city’s confines can lead to sweeping advantages. For starters, it offers a gamut of buildings, each tailored to provide amenities. From the basic Arena to the grandiose Stadium, each construction amplifies the happiness quotient of a city.
Yet, it’s not merely about constructing these edifices. The placement of the Entertainment District can enable bonuses if it’s adjacent to particular tiles or other districts, optimizing amenity benefits further. Moreover, as you advance through the game’s eras and technology tree, more advanced buildings become accessible, solidifying the district’s role in amenity distribution.
Detailed Guide on Acquiring Amenities
While understanding sources is essential, a clear roadmap on how to acquire amenities can make your journey in “Civilization 6” smoother:
Survey the Land: Before making any moves, survey the map. Identify luxury resources nearby and strategize on how to integrate them into your empire.
Strategic District Placement: When setting up the Entertainment District, assess the tiles around it. Leveraging natural bonuses can augment your amenity count.
Engage in Trade: If you find your empire flush with multiple copies of the same luxury resource, it’s time to hit the trade route. Engage with other civilizations, barter wisely, and acquire resources you don’t have.
City Specialization: Instead of going for a jack-of-all-trades approach, consider specializing cities. Some cities can focus on Entertainment Districts, while others might prioritize other avenues for amenity generation.
Monitor and Adjust: Amenities aren’t a ‘set it and forget it’ aspect of the game. Regularly visit the city details panel. Gauge the contentment of each city and make necessary adjustments, be it via policy shifts, construction, or trade.
Other Sources of Amenities

In “Civilization 6”, amenities are not just tethered to obvious sources like luxury resources or entertainment districts. The game’s multifaceted design opens various avenues for players to secure these vital assets, ensuring cities remain content and prosperous.
Trade: Engaging in trade with other civilizations is more than just an economic boost. Many times, these transactions can yield amenities that might be scarce in your domain. By establishing trade routes and diplomatic negotiations, you can tap into a reservoir of foreign resources.
Religion: The faith dimension in “Civilization 6” is not to be underestimated. Some religious beliefs, when adopted, can lead to amenity bonuses, providing a non-traditional route to keep city contentment in check.
Policies and Governments: Your choice in government type and the policies you adopt can have direct implications on amenity acquisition. Certain policies grant bonus amenities, especially when tailored to suit your civilization’s unique strengths and needs.
Great People: Throughout the course of the game, attracting great people—be it scientists, artists, or generals—can be a boon. Some of these illustrious figures bring with them a wealth of amenities, enhancing city satisfaction.
Wonders: These monumental constructions are not just a testament to a civilization’s grandeur. Many wonders, when constructed, also augment the amenity pool, making them a dual-purpose asset worth striving for.
Factors Leading to Loss of Amenities
While the acquisition of amenities is pivotal in “Civilization 6”, so too is understanding the nuances that lead to their decline or loss. Recognizing these factors can guide decisions and curtail unexpected drops in city satisfaction.
War Weariness: The prolonged engagement in wars can sap a civilization’s morale, leading to a decline in amenities. This loss isn’t immediate, but a creeping weariness that grows over time, reducing amenities progressively.
Bankruptcy: Keeping a vigilant eye on your economy is essential. Should your civilization’s coffers run dry, cities will bear the brunt with a decline in amenities due to the lack of funds.
Overpopulation: Striking a balance between city expansion and amenity acquisition is vital. A city that grows too quickly without an amenity balance to match can experience shortages.
Negative Diplomatic Actions: Engaging in actions that are frowned upon by other civilizations can lead to sanctions or even amenity losses. Whether it’s breaking a promise or getting caught in espionage, diplomatic consequences can be severe.
Natural Disasters: The game’s dynamics include unpredictable natural disasters. While these can sometimes be beneficial, at times they lead to loss of essential resources, thus impacting amenities.
Starting Amenities and Their Progression
The inception of your journey in “Civilization 6” isn’t devoid of amenities. Every city you establish begins with a basic set. However, as the eras advance and the city grows, so does the complexity of amenity management.
Initial Cities: Every city you establish comes equipped with a set number of amenities. This ensures a base level of contentment for the early settlers, allowing a budding civilization to find its footing without undue challenges.
Growth & Demand: As cities grow in population, the demand for amenities rises in tandem. This progression isn’t linear, and different stages of city growth might have varying amenity demands.
Strategies for Progression: Moving through the eras, it becomes imperative to adopt more sophisticated strategies. Unlocking new technologies, constructing advanced buildings, and establishing diplomatic relations can all pave the way for higher amenity accrual.
Balancing Acts: With progression comes complexity. Advanced eras introduce newer challenges, like managing multiple cities with distinct amenity demands. It necessitates a strategic approach, ensuring each city’s unique needs are met without neglecting the broader civilizational objectives.