Summary
- Civilization 7 is receiving mixed early user reviews on Steam due to UI issues, with fans feeling the game is better suited for consoles.
- Missing staple mechanics like automated settlers and limited map choices are also negatively impacting the player experience.
- Positive feedback includes changes in warfare, with commanders adding benefits, and new settlements starting as towns.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 is struggling with early user reviews, sitting at just the “Mixed” category on Steam with days left to go before most players get a chance to dive in. Civilization 7 is now available to play only for players who purchased the Deluxe or Founders editions, and they are already finding a slew of problems with the newest title in the esteemed 4X strategy series, with many complaints centered around its user interface.
The celebrated series traces its roots back to its first game, which was released in 1991. More than eight years have passed since the release of Civilization 6, and 2K and Firaxis Games have been building up a lot of anticipation since announcing its successor two years ago, including revealing Civilization 7 narrator Gwendoline Christie of Game of Thrones and Wednesday fame.
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But for those who are able to play Civilization 7 early, only about 45 percent of whom are casting a positive light on it on Steam, the UI stands out as probably the biggest problem. Many early PC players feel the game was created to be played on consoles and ported over to PC pre-release without much regard for the UI. While growing pains are expected with the release of a new entry in a popular series, players are finding it hard to find vital information, and multiple reviews have mentioned that it feels unfinished. Some seem especially annoyed with notifications popping up on the screen, as they tend to show up en masse, burying crucial notes under more trivial details and sometimes disappearing without warning, leaving players in the dark about what’s happening in their societies.
Civilization 7 is Off to a Rocky Start on Steam
While many players on Steam feel the UI makes Civilization 7 feel better geared to console than PC, there are other concerns that will affect players on all platforms. Some staple mechanics of the series are missing, such as the ability to automate settlers to explore the darkened areas of the game map and automatically find suitable places to build new settlements. The newest installment also seems to be lacking in customization, as players report they’re left with a miniscule number of map choices and no advanced options for setting up the game world. There also seems to be no way to view the tech tree outside of earning enough points for a new technology, and other missing features – or ones that players are struggling to find – include quick movement and renaming cities.
On the positive end, early players who have been enjoying the game have especially been making note of the changes to warfare in Civilization 7. The addition of commanders seems to be a big hit, adding their own special benefits to military units and keeping the less-diplomatic end of gameplay feeling fresh and interesting. Several players have also reacted positively to new settlements starting out as towns that function differently than larger cities, introducing a welcome change to growing civilizations.
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Released
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February 11, 2025
- Franchise
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Sid Meier’s Civilization