Civ 7 Steam: Negative Reviews Flood Early Access

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 been marred by overwhelmingly negative player feedback on Steam. The high anticipation surrounding the game, the first mainline entry since Civ VI in 2016, has been significantly dampened by this critical reception. Several key issues are consistently cited by dissatisfied players.

The user interface (UI) is a major point of contention. Many 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 even suggest a console-first development approach has resulted in a barren and limited UI experience on PC.

Map generation and customization options have also drawn considerable criticism. Players report difficulties in map selection, limited size choices (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five options), and a lack of customization features. The lack of detailed information when browsing map types further exacerbates this issue.

The revised resource mechanics represent another significant source of frustration. The shift from map-based resource gathering in Civ VI to a city/empire-centric strategic resource management system has been met with resistance. Players argue that the previous system offered greater replayability and strategic depth.

Firaxis Games has acknowledged the negative feedback, responding to some reviews with a statement acknowledging the UI concerns and assuring players that improvements are underway. They also mentioned that Civilization VII will continue to evolve with future updates and expansions, inviting further player feedback.