Civ 7 Disappoints on Steam: Negative Reviews Skyrocket upon Early Release

Civilization VII's Advanced Access Launch Receives Overwhelmingly Negative Steam Reviews

Civilization VII (Civ 7), released five days early via Steam's Advanced Access program, has been met with a deluge of negative player feedback, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" overall rating on the platform. Despite high anticipation for the first mainline entry since Civ VI in 2016, the early access build has fallen short of expectations for many.

Key criticisms center around several core aspects of the game:

User Interface (UI) Concerns: The UI is a major source of frustration. Players describe it as clunky, visually unappealing, and a significant downgrade from Civ VI's polished interface. Comparisons to "free mobile knockoffs" highlight the perceived lack of refinement. Some speculate that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a simplified and less customizable UI for the PC version.

Map Issues: The map system also draws considerable criticism. Players cite difficulties in map selection, limited map size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five), and a lack of customization. The limited information provided when browsing map types further exacerbates this issue.

Resource Mechanics: The revised resource mechanics, shifting from direct tile-based gathering to city/empire-wide strategic management, are another point of contention. Many players feel this change reduces replayability compared to the random resource generation of Civ VI.

Firaxis Response: Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, specifically addressing UI concerns and promising ongoing improvements and updates based on player input. They also indicated that future updates and expansions will address map-related issues. However, the current negative sentiment underscores significant concerns about the game's current state.