"Negative feedback plagues Civilization 7 on Steam, questionable if it can recover"

"Negative feedback plagues Civilization 7 on Steam, questionable if it can recover"

Civilization VII Burnout: A 4X Bomb

It's been four grueling months since the Civilization VII drop on February 11, 2025. But things aren't looking too grand for the latest turn-based strategy title from Firaxis Games.

The game's Recent Reviews rating on Steam has plummeted to "Mostly Negative" with over 1,300 submissions. Despite the overall "Mixed" rating of more than 32,000 reviews, the game seems to be cruising towards a deep, dark abyss.

We've seen several major updates since launch, the latest being version 1.2.1 on May 27, bringing in new map support, Steam Workshop support, an array of balance changes, and some user interface/quality of life improvements. Sadly, it hasn't thwarted the nosedive in user review scores.

So, why the uproar?

Civ VII's current predicament isn't a reflection of the review bombing commonly observed in high-profile games. Upon examining reviews from players, many arguments are valid, and it's clear that Firaxis took a gamble with this installment.

In my Civilization VII review at launch, which followed around 40 hours of pre-release playtime, I called out the game's downsides, like the paid DLC schedule, a scarcity of Information Era, and the game's new Age mechanic that lacked fluidity, causing some matches to feel clunky and disjointed. And it seems that's been a major cause of distress for players.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Some players, despite their steamy rants, still manage to find enjoyment in the game. A player with over 267 hours at the review revealed that:

"I've found some fun in it, but it needs a lot of work" - Player 1

While another user with an astonishing 748 hours under their belt had this to say at the time of the review:

"I enjoy the game, but the limitations and design decisions are frustrating." - Player 2

So, what happened to a game series that's been setting the strategy gaming scene on fire since 1991?

Firaxis took a bold and brazen step with Civilization VII, overhauling several of the core mechanics cherished by long-time Civ players.

For example, the ages are now divided with a soft reset for the map and your units, doing away with some of the protracted matches from older Civ titles. This change also allows for a smoother strategy shift if your initial plan hasn't been panning out.

On the positive side, the game's redesign adds a level of stress relief by significantly reducing micromanagement, particularly during late-game combat. Additionally, the game places an emphasis on map positioning and resources.

But change doesn't always sit well with everyone. Despite harboring a hardcore fan base for 34 years, I was expecting resistance to the new mechanics. I did not, however, anticipate seeing such a dismal score just months after launch.

Civilization 7 seems to be stuck in a quagmire, and it remains to be seen if the upcoming DLCs can drag it out of the muck.

What are your thoughts on Civ 7? Are you digging the revamped gameplay? Are you one of the 6,300+ players enjoying the game today on Steam? Let me know below!

Behind the Headlines:

• Traditional Civilization Feel: The classic feel of the Civ series seems to be missing in action. Players describe it as a "paint-by-numbers" iteration, with less freedom and creativity than previous games[4].
• Age Transitions: The mechanic of transitions between ages is a pain point for many players. They claim it feels abrupt, forcing them to change civilizations with each new era, making matches feel like starting over on the same map[4].
• Innovation and Comparison to Humankind: The game's innovations, such as mixing-and-matching leaders, are divisive. Some players feel the game falls short of the mark, even stealing poorly from competitors like Humankind[4].
• Gameplay Mechanics: The game's overall design and certain mechanics, such as unit management during age transitions, are criticized for being clunky and awkward[5].

1. The Xbox Series X might provide a refreshing change for Civilization VII fans, as its powerful hardware could potentially smooth out gameplay and improve the overall experience.
2. However, some players might still opt for playing the game on PC, as it allows for more customization and access to third-party gadgets, enhancing the gaming experience.
3. With the technology advancing at an unprecedented pace, window updates for Civilization VII on PC could improve the game's performance and address some of the issues raised by players.
4. As for the Xbox version, Microsoft could consider rolling out updates that mimic the improvements seen in the PC version, ensuring parity between platforms and a better gaming experience for all players.

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