Civilization 7 has landed a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, based on feedback from players who tried the Advanced Access version. Keep reading to understand the core issues behind the criticism.
Civ 7 Lands "Mostly Negative" Steam Rating After Early Launch
Steam Users Cite Issues with Interface, Maps, and Resource System
Civilization 7 (commonly called Civ 7) launched its Advanced Access version five days ahead of the official February 11 release. However, many Steam players who paid extra for early access are dissatisfied with the current build, leading to the game's "mostly negative" review status on the platform.
Hype for Civ 7 was significant, as it's the first mainline entry since 2016's Civilization 6. That excitement has now been tempered by the poor Steam rating, with numerous reviewers highlighting a consistent set of problems.
A major point of criticism is the game's User Interface (UI). Many players describe it as "janky" and "unattractive" compared to Civ 6's. One Steam user even likened the current UI to a "free mobile knockoff" of the franchise. Some have accused developer Firaxis Games of prioritizing console development, resulting in a "barren" PC interface with limited options.
Players also raised several concerns about the map system. Complaints include difficulties in selecting maps, a limited choice of map types, few size options, and minimal customization. According to one review, scrolling through map types doesn't provide sufficient descriptive information.
Civ 7 currently offers only three map sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. This is a reduction from the five sizes available in Civ 6, which catered to a wider variety of playstyles.
The new resource mechanics in Civ 7 have also sparked debate. Resources are now managed strategically and assigned to cities or your empire, rather than being directly harvested from specific tiles on the map. This departs from Civ 6's system, where resources were randomly placed on the map for players to control. A common complaint is that the older mechanic offered greater replayability.
Responding to a player 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!"
