Civ 7 Advanced Access Drowned in Negative Reviews

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 garnered overwhelmingly negative player feedback, resulting in a "Mostly Negative" rating on the platform. This comes despite high anticipation for the game, the first mainline entry since Civ VI in 2016.

The criticism centers around several key areas:

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

Maps and Map Selection: Concerns have been raised regarding map selection, limited size options (only small, medium, and large, compared to Civ VI's five sizes), and a lack of customization. The lack of detailed information when browsing map types further compounds the issue.

Resource Mechanics: The shift from map-based resource gathering (as in Civ VI) to a city/empire-centric strategic resource management system has been met with disapproval. Players argue that the previous system offered greater replayability.

Firaxis Games acknowledged the negative feedback, particularly concerning the UI, promising ongoing improvements and future updates to address player concerns. They also indicated that maps and other aspects of the game will evolve through future updates and expansions. The developer's response suggests a commitment to addressing the issues raised by the community.