Civilization VII's early access launch on Steam has been met with a wave of negative reviews, leaving the game with a "mostly negative" rating. Let's delve into the reasons behind the player backlash.
Civ 7's Rocky Steam Debut: A Sea of Negative Reviews
UI, Maps, and Resource Mechanics Under Fire
Five days before its official February 11th release, Civilization VII's advanced access period has fallen short of expectations for many Steam players. The overwhelmingly negative reception has cast a shadow over the highly anticipated sequel to Civ VI (2016). Players cite several key issues contributing to the game's poor rating.
The user interface (UI) is a major target of criticism. Many describe it as clunky, visually unappealing, and a significant downgrade from Civ VI's polished interface. Some comparisons even draw parallels to "free mobile knockoffs," highlighting a perceived lack of refinement. Concerns have also been raised about potential console prioritization in development, leading to a perceived lack of robust PC UI options.
Map generation and customization are also major points of contention. Players complain about difficulties in map selection, limited size options, and a scarcity of customization features. The lack of detailed information when browsing map types further compounds the issue. Civ VII offers only three map sizes (Small, Medium, Large) compared to Civ VI's five, limiting strategic gameplay options.
The revised resource mechanics have also drawn considerable ire. The shift from directly gathering resources from map tiles to a city/empire-based strategic management system has been met with negativity. Players argue that the previous system offered greater replayability.
Firaxis Games acknowledges the criticism, responding to some reviews with the following statement: "We are aware of and looking into feedback on the game's UI. We're continuing to make improvements to Civilization VII, and appreciate you taking the time to drop your feedback. For the maps, Civilization VII is going to keep growing and changing with future updates and expansions, so please let us know what you'd like to see!"
