I’ve spent close to 200 hours playing Civilization 7, and to be honest, I’m feeling quite let down. I had high expectations, yet there are some significant problems.
From my first turn, it seemed like the game was constantly in a hurry. It pushes you to progress quickly, which can be frustrating if you want to take your time with your strategy. The concept of legacy paths is interesting, but their linear nature restricts gameplay too much, leading to similar experiences each time.
The settlement limit is harsh, especially as the game progresses into the modern age. Everything slows down a lot. While the ages are not bad overall, I often feel like I’m racing through time and missing out on significant historical moments.
One major issue for me is the absence of a sandbox vibe. The earlier Civilization games allowed me to build my empire as I saw fit, but Civ 7 feels limiting, with mechanics that dictate too much.
Regarding political mechanics, it’s a mix. Some elements are engaging, but many immersive features from Civ 6 have been reduced. Peace negotiations feel superficial, city trading is disappointing, and liberating city-states or nations seems inconsistent.
And let’s talk about the user interface; it’s cluttered, unintuitive, and at times just confusing.
In conclusion, Civilization 7 isn’t a bad game—I see potential and some bold choices—but they don’t feel fully developed yet. Personally, I’m going back to Civilization 6, which offers the sandbox experience I miss. I enjoy the deeper political interactions and the sense of crafting my own narrative, rather than just following a predetermined path.
P.S. The pricing on the DLCs is outrageous to me, but that’s another story.