Sid Meier’s Civilization VIIcurrently holds a 51% positive rating on Steam, just 10 days after its Feb. 11 release. This makes it the lowest-rated game in the franchise on the platform, falling belowSid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth, which sits at 57% positive.
On Metacritic, both games have similar critic scores, withCivilization 7 scoring 9 on Destructoid’s review. ButCiv. 7fares worse in user reviews, with a 3.6 out of 10 compared toBeyond Earth’s5.5. It’s clear that players aren’t satisfied with the new entry, and that frustration is reflected in its player count on Steam.
Players are struggling to move on fromCivilization 6
As of Feb. 21,SteamChartsshowed thatCivilization 7had a peak concurrent player count of just over 43,000, whileCivilization 6peaked at 49,000 on the same day.
AlthoughCiv 7has maintained a higher average player count over the last 30 days, its numbers are still lower thanCiv 6’sJanuary 2025 average.
This suggests that longtimeCiv 6players haven’t abandoned the older game to dedicate their time toCiv 7. While negative reviews certainly play a role, there are deeper reasons why players aren’t making the switch.
Civilization 7 is expensive
Civ. 7is priced at $69.99, slightly higher thanCiv 6’soriginal $59.99. However,Civ 6is frequently on sale for much cheaper, hitting an all-time low of $2.99 during the 2024 Steam Summer Sale.
This meansCiv 6has been steadily growing its player base for years, whileCiv 7is just starting out—with a much higher barrier to entry.
Re-learning a complex game like Civilization is hard
While the core gameplay of Civilization remains similar across titles, moving from one game to another requires players to learn new mechanics, forget discontinued ones, and adapt to a fresh meta and strategy..
This learning curve is already a challenge, but when players knowCiv 7has technical issues, it makes switching even less appealing.
Civilization 6 is a refined game
Released in 2016,Civilization 6has years of updates and DLC expansions that have polished its gameplay and balance.
For veteran players, it’s easier to stick with a well-rounded game that supports established strategies than to adjust to an unpolished new entry.
For new players,Civ 6is also a better starting point, as it has been refined over the years, making it more accessible than a game still finding its footing.
Other games have facedCivilization 7’sstruggles
It’s no surprise thatCivilization 6hasn’t seen a massive drop in players following the release ofCiv 7. EvenCivilization 3—released in 2001—still peaks at nearly 2,000 concurrent players daily on Steam, whileCivilization 5reaches close to 20,000 concurrents each day.
This trend isn’t exclusive to the Civilization series. According to SteamCharts:
These examples prove a common challenge for sequels in long-running franchises—convincing players to move on from a game they’ve already invested years into.
But it’s just the start forCivilization 7
What really matters now is how developer Firaxis and publisher 2K respond. They have the opportunity to improve the game through updates, address turn limits and UI issues, and introduce incremental refinements with each patch.
IfCivilization’shistory is any indication,Civ. 7won’t remain in the middle—it will either realize its full potential, becoming a defining entry in the franchise that players explore for years, or struggle to gain momentum, eventually fading into obscurity likeBeyond Earth.
