Civ 7 Steam Early Access Hit with Negative Reviews

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Civilization 7 has landed on Steam—but not with a bang. Instead, it’s been met with a wave of disappointment, currently sitting at a “mostly negative” review score from players who accessed the game through its early Advanced Access release. Let’s dive into what’s fueling this backlash.

Civilization VII Receives "Mostly Negative" Rating on Steam at Launch

Despite high expectations as the long-awaited successor to Civilization VI, which launched back in 2016, Civilization VII has stumbled out of the gate on Steam. The game released its Advanced Access version five days early—on February 6—but many players who paid for early entry are left unimpressed, leading to an overwhelming number of critical reviews.

The primary concerns center around the user interface, map customization, and resource management mechanics—core elements that define the Civ experience.

Complaints About the User Interface (UI)

One of the most common gripes from players is the clunky and outdated UI. Many have described the visual design as “janky,” “unpolished,” and even compared it to a “free mobile knockoff.” Fans expected a refined, modernized look that reflects the evolution of the franchise, but instead feel like they're looking at a stripped-down console version being shoehorned onto PC.

Some players believe Firaxis prioritized consoles during development, leaving the PC version feeling barebones and lacking depth in UI customization options.

Map System Falls Short of Expectations

Another major point of criticism involves the map system. Players report limited options when selecting maps, including only three size settings: Small, Medium, and Large—down from five in Civilization VI. Additionally, users noted that navigating and choosing different map types offers little descriptive information, making strategic planning more guesswork than strategy.

Map scrolling and selection don't provide adequate feedback or previews, further frustrating veteran players who rely on terrain and layout to shape their gameplay style.

Changes to Resource Mechanics Stir Controversy

Civ 7 introduces a new empire-wide resource management system where resources are assigned strategically across cities rather than being collected from specific tiles on the map. While intended to streamline gameplay, many fans see this as a step backward.

In Civilization VI, resources were scattered across the world map, encouraging exploration, expansion, and territorial control. Players argue that this older method added depth and replayability, whereas the new system feels overly simplified and less engaging.

Developer Response

Firaxis Games has acknowledged the feedback, responding directly to some reviews with the following message:

“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!”

This indicates that the team remains committed to refining the game post-launch, though it remains to be seen whether these changes will satisfy the current wave of dissatisfied players.

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