Civ 7 Steam Version Suffers Deluge of Negative Reviews as Advanced Access Releases

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. This comes despite high anticipation for the game, the first mainline entry since Civ VI in 2016.

The primary criticisms center around several key areas:

User Interface (UI): Many players find the UI significantly inferior to Civ VI's, describing it as "janky," "ugly," and even comparing it to a "free mobile knockoff." Accusations have been levied that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a limited and visually unappealing UI for the PC version.

Maps and Map Customization: Players express dissatisfaction with the map selection process, limited map size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five sizes), and a lack of customization features. The lack of detailed information when browsing map types further compounds this issue.

Resource Mechanics: The shift from Civ VI's map-based resource gathering to a city/empire-centric strategic resource management system has proven controversial. Players argue the older system offered greater replayability.

Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly regarding the UI, promising ongoing improvements and future updates. They also indicated that map features are planned for expansion in future updates. However, the overwhelmingly negative initial reception raises significant concerns about the game's current state.