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 received a predominantly negative reception from players. The game, highly anticipated following Civ 6's 2016 release, currently holds a "mostly negative" rating on Steam.

Criticism centers on several key areas:

User Interface (UI): Many players find the UI inferior to Civ 6, describing it as clunky, unattractive, and even resembling a "free mobile knockoff." Some speculate that Firaxis Games prioritized console development, resulting in a simplified and less customizable UI experience.

Maps and Map Customization: Players have voiced concerns about map selection, limited map size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ 6's five sizes), and a lack of customization. The lack of detailed map information during selection is also a point of frustration.

Resource Mechanics: The shift from Civ 6's map-based resource gathering to a city/empire-based strategic resource management system has been met with criticism. Players argue that the older system offered greater replayability.

Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly concerning the UI, and indicated ongoing improvements and future updates, including potential map expansions, are planned. They encouraged players to continue providing feedback.