On February 11, 2025, Civilization VII, a new installment in the famous turn-based strategy series, will be released. The game will be available simultaneously on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch. However, the first reviews have already appeared today, so you can get an idea of what awaits you at the release.
Critical Acclaim and Initial Reviews
According to the OpenCritic aggregator, the strategy received an average score of 84/100, with 92% of critics recommending the game. Metacritic has 50 reviews, and the average score is about 80/100. Here’s what the critics write:
Gamersky (9.2/10):
“Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a testament to the franchise’s enduring power, like a civilization that has thrived through the ages. Rather than rest on its laurels, it has evolved, continually integrating innovations and the best elements of its predecessors to cement its place in gaming history. Its ability to embrace change while maintaining its core proves that this legendary series can still stand the test of time.”
VGC (5/5):
“Civilization VII is bold enough to make big changes to the formula without getting rid of everything that made the series iconic. Say goodbye to free time – from PC to handheld, every waking moment will be consumed by ‘One More Turn.'”
A Mixed Bag of Innovations and Challenges
GameSpot (8/10):
“Sid Meier’s Civilization VII remains as fun as ever, but too many radical changes lead to obvious problems.”
GRYOnline.pl (6/10):
“Civilization 7 is a very beautiful and very chaotic game. Bold, but not thoughtful. It introduces changes that are not bad in themselves and create an interesting foundation for what will probably be a great game in the future. Unfortunately, what we have now is an early access product at a premium price.”
Praise for Improvements and Core Elements
Destructoid (90/100):
“I’m glad that Firaxis is still finding ways to improve on a genre the studio has spent years honing, and as a result, Civilization VII represents the series in its best form ever.”
Guardian (100/100):
“Civilization VII is definitely the Civilization of our time: deep and complex, but with an emphasis on human drama and achievement rather than simply moving faceless units through a mathematical matrix. There are still few moments in video games more satisfying than constructing the Hanging Gardens, discovering a suitable site for a new city, or marching a phalanx of troops into a battered enemy capital. This game, which once nearly cost me my job, will gracefully steal hours, days, and perhaps months of your life. But then, no one conquered the world in a day.”
Balanced Feedback from Various Critics
XboxEra (8.6/10):
“The core elements of the game are there, they work, and it’s fun to play. The incentives and dynamism of the new approach to civ rotation, along with the traditional development paths, will keep the game fresh both between and within different games. In previous games, I often found myself quitting after 80 turns. I haven’t had that urge yet here.”
Wccftech (8/10):
“Civilization VII is a great game, simply put. With improved city building, terrain features, and diplomacy, there’s a lot to like about this new installment in the 35-year-old franchise. However, longtime fans of the series will find some omissions limiting, such as the inability to disable victory conditions other than military dominance. This, coupled with the fast pace of the eras, will make some feel like the epic nature of the long games has been completely lost. However, even if the games feel a little rushed, the ‘just one more turn’ mentality that makes Civilization one of the best series of all time is still there.”
VG247 (4/5):
“In the end, it all works — just in a very different way. There’s a hint of compromise here for the sake of a wider launch, but compromise is fine if the end result works. And it does. I’m happy. As someone who’s played close to a thousand hours of Civ 4, 5, and 6, I’m ready to add hundreds more hours to 7. Some of that time will come from years of growth and expansion, as Civilization does. But the foundation is solid. The legend of the desperate ‘one more move’, over and over again, is forever safe.”
New Gameplay Mechanics and Features
GamesRadar+ (4/5):
“Civilization 7 is a revolutionary strategy game for newcomers and longtime fans alike. While some of the changes to diplomacy and eras fall short, many of the smaller additions—along with Firaxis’ biggest risk yet in combating the tedium of long campaigns—pay off handsomely.”
PCGamesN (7/10):
“Firaxis has managed to partially overcome the 4X genre’s inherent redundancy. All of Civilization VII’s big new ideas work well, and it’s more focused and engaging than any of its predecessors. However, the sense of engagement still begins to wane toward the mid-game.”
The Road Ahead for Civilization VII
IGN (7/10):
“Civilization 7’s quest to simplify and streamline the storied 4X series seems to have gone too far, especially when it comes to the interface. It’s frustratingly inadequate at providing the information you need to play well or even understand what’s going on. But improved warfare and diplomacy, added narrative elements, and generally great graphics and sound still provide reasons to keep pressing ‘just one more turn’ late into the night. There’s reason to believe that with Firaxis’ usual pace of patches and expansions, the game will be able to hone its new ideas and become everything it was meant to be. And while what it is now is still enjoyable, it’s also a bigger step back for the series than we’ve become accustomed to seeing in a new era.”
Eurogamer (2/5):
“A competent entry in the series with some poorly executed ideas and a striking lack of personality.”
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The early reviews for Civilization VII present a varied landscape of opinions, with high praise for its core mechanics and innovations, alongside constructive criticism for its bold but sometimes problematic changes. As the game rolls out, both new players and longtime fans will have the chance to experience its evolving gameplay and decide for themselves.
