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

Civilization VII's Early Access Launch Met with Negative Steam Reviews

Civilization VII (Civ 7), released five days early via Steam's Advanced Access, has garnered overwhelmingly negative player feedback, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" rating on the platform. This contrasts sharply with the high anticipation surrounding the game's release, the first in the series since Civ VI in 2016.

The criticism centers on several key areas:

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

Maps and Customization: The map system has also drawn considerable criticism. Players cite issues with map selection, limited map size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five sizes), and a lack of customization. The lack of detailed map type information during selection is another frequent complaint.

Resource Mechanics: The revised resource mechanics, shifting from direct tile-based gathering (as in Civ VI) to city/empire-based strategic management, have been met with disapproval. Players argue that the previous system offered greater replayability.

Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly regarding the UI, stating they are actively investigating player concerns and committed to ongoing improvements through updates and expansions. They also encouraged players to provide further feedback on desired map features. The future of Civ 7's reception remains to be seen, pending these promised improvements.