Civilization 7 has received a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam based on feedback from players who tested the advanced access version. Discover what's behind the wave of criticism.
Civ 7 Hit with "Mostly Negative" Steam Rating Shortly After Early Launch
Steam Users Voice Concerns Over User Interface, Map Design, and Resource System
Civilization 7 (often called Civ 7) launched its Advanced Access version five days before the official February 11 release, but many Steam players are disappointed with the build they paid extra for, leading to the game's "mostly negative" review score.
Excitement for Civ 7 was significant, as it's the first new installment since Civilization VI debuted in 2016. However, this excitement has been overshadowed by the "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, with numerous users highlighting similar issues.
A major point of criticism involves the game's user interface. Many describe the UI as "clunky" and "unappealing" compared to Civ 6. One Steam user even likened it to a "low-quality mobile imitation of Civilization." Some players suspect developer Firaxis Games designed the game primarily for consoles, resulting in a "bare-bones" interface with limited customization.
Players also raised issues with the map system, mentioning difficulties in selection, a lack of map type variety, restricted size options, and minimal customization. According to one player, scrolling through map types doesn't provide enough detail about each one.
Civilization 7 offers only three map sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—compared to the five available in Civ 6, which catered to different playstyles.
The new resource mechanics also sparked debate. Resources are now managed strategically at the city or empire level instead of being collected directly from map tiles, a departure from Civ 6's system where resources appeared randomly on the map for players to control. Critics feel the older approach offered greater replayability.
Responding to a review, Firaxis Games stated, "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!"
