Many Firaxis fans eagerly awaited another stellar installment following the release of Sid Meier's Civilization VII. However, initial Steam reviews paint a drastically different picture, revealing widespread dissatisfaction. Gamers are overwhelmingly critical of the game's clunky interface, outdated visuals, and pervasive sense of incompletion.
At the time of this writing, the game boasts over 1,000 reviews, averaging a dismal 37% positive rating.
User Cool CGI Dog, after roughly 1.5 hours of gameplay, commented:
The game feels so blatantly unfinished after just a few minutes, especially by Civ standards. The resource icons look like they're from 1998, the interface is atrocious, and everything feels incredibly sloppy. There's a distinct lack of polish, something I never expected from Firaxis. The release of Civ VI is worlds apart from this incomplete mess. At the very least, Civ VII's interface needs a complete visual overhaul to even partially justify its exorbitant $70 price tag. This feels like Sid Meier himself personally slapped me and spat in my face. And I didn't consent to that.
Another player, WillNever, echoed these sentiments after 2.5 hours:
The interface looks and feels like an alpha-stage design that's never been updated or improved. While the new mechanics are interesting, navigating this awful interface makes the experience unbearable. Months of refinement are needed to make this game enjoyable.
The prevailing opinion among reviewers is that the game launched prematurely and requires substantial improvements. The $70 price point is particularly controversial, widely considered unjustified given the product's current state.
Series fans remain hopeful that Firaxis will address the negative feedback through substantial updates, restoring the game to the high standards expected of the Civilization franchise. The series has always been synonymous with quality and meticulous attention to detail; players expect the seventh installment to eventually live up to that legacy, but certainly not in its current form.
