Civilization 7 Faces Heavy Criticism on Steam

When Firaxis released *Sid Meier’s Civilization VII*, fans of the legendary strategy series were eager to dive into what they hoped would be another groundbreaking entry. However, early reactions on Steam have been far from favorable. Gamers have expressed disappointment over what they describe as a poorly optimized interface, outdated visuals, and an overall lack of polish—issues that stand in stark contrast to the high standards set by previous installments.

At the time of writing, the game had already accumulated more than 1,000 reviews, with an average score of just 37%. Many players feel that the game launched in an unfinished state, failing to meet expectations for both its genre and the franchise's legacy.

Players Speak Out

User Cool CGI Dog, after spending roughly 90 minutes with the game, shared a harsh verdict:

The game feels... so blatantly incomplete after just a few minutes, especially by Civ standards. The resource icons look like they were pulled straight from 1998, the interface is a nightmare to navigate, and the whole experience feels extremely sloppy.

There’s no sense of care or attention to detail—which I never expected from Firaxis. The launch of Civ VI was a masterpiece by comparison; this is just an incomplete mess. At the very least, Civ VII’s UI needs a complete visual overhaul to even partially justify its steep $70 price tag. Playing this felt like Sid Meier himself slapped me across the face and spat in my mouth—and I didn’t even agree to it.

Another player, WillNever, who spent about 2.5 hours with the title, echoed similar sentiments:

The interface looks and feels like it was built during the alpha phase of development and hasn't been touched since. While some of the new mechanics are intriguing, the effort required to deal with this clunky UI simply isn't worth it. This game needs months of refinement and optimization before it can even begin to feel enjoyable.

A Premature Launch?

A growing number of reviewers believe that *Civilization VII* was rushed to market before it was truly ready. Chief among the complaints is the $70 price point, which many feel does not reflect the current state of the game. Players argue that such a premium should come with a level of polish and functionality that simply isn’t there yet.

Fans of the long-running series remain hopeful that Firaxis will listen to the feedback and roll out updates that address the major issues. The goal, they say, should be to restore the game to the standard of excellence the franchise is known for.

Historically, *Civilization* has stood for deep gameplay, refined mechanics, and meticulous design. While *Civilization VII* may one day live up to that legacy, at the moment, it falls significantly short of the mark.