Civilization VII's rocky launch has left many Firaxis fans disappointed. Steam reviews are overwhelmingly negative, citing a subpar interface, outdated graphics, and a general feeling of incompleteness.
At the time of writing, over 1,000 reviews have yielded a dismal 37% rating.
User Cool CGI Dog, after a 1.5-hour playtime, expressed frustration: "The game feels incredibly unfinished, especially for a Civ title. The resource icons look like they're from 1998, the UI is atrocious, and everything is sloppy. There's a clear lack of polish, which is shocking from Firaxis. Civ VI is miles ahead of this mess. The $70 price tag is outrageous without a major UI overhaul. This feels like a personal insult."
Another player, WillNever, echoed these sentiments after 2.5 hours: "The interface looks and feels like an alpha build. The new mechanics are interesting, but completely overshadowed by the terrible UI. Months of work are needed to make this game enjoyable."
The consensus among reviewers is that Civ VII launched prematurely and requires substantial improvements. The $70 price point is particularly contentious, deemed disproportionate to the game's current state.
Series fans are hopeful that Firaxis will address the criticism through updates, restoring the franchise's reputation for quality and attention to detail. While the Civilization series is known for its excellence, Civ VII, in its current form, falls far short of expectations.
