Is Civ 7's UI as Bad as They Say?

Civ 7's Deluxe Edition debuted, and the internet's already buzzing about its UI. But is the criticism justified? Let's delve into the game's interface and see if it's truly as bad as some claim.

← Return to Sid Meier's Civilization VII main article

Is Civ 7's UI as Bad as They Say?

Early access to Civ 7 via Deluxe and Founder's Editions has sparked significant debate, especially concerning the UI and missing quality-of-life features. Before joining the chorus of complaints, let's objectively assess the UI's effectiveness as a 4X interface. We'll examine its components and compare them to established best practices.

What Makes a Good 4X UI?

Defining an "objectively good" 4X UI is tricky. Design effectiveness depends heavily on the game's context, style, and goals. However, successful 4X UIs share common characteristics identified by visual design experts. Let's use these as benchmarks to evaluate Civ 7.

Clear Information Hierarchy

A clear information hierarchy prioritizes accessibility and relevance. Frequently used resources and mechanics should be prominent, while less crucial features remain easily accessible. The UI shouldn't display everything at once, but information should be logically organized.

Against the Storm provides a strong example. Building menus are clearly tabbed, prioritizing common actions (worker assignment, production) before less frequent functions (inventory, Rainpunk system).

Civ 7's resource summary works well, separating income, yields, and expenses via dropdown menus. City and district breakdowns are included. The collapsible design is efficient. However, it lacks detail; it doesn't specify which districts or hexes generate specific resources, and expense breakdowns are limited. While functional, more granularity is needed.

Effective and Efficient Visual Indicators

Visual indicators—icons, colors, overlays—convey information quickly. A good UI uses these to communicate data without relying on text.

Stellaris, despite its cluttered UI, uses effective visual indicators in its Outliner. At a glance, players understand ship status (transit, scanning, etc.). Planet icons instantly show resource needs.

Civ 7 uses tile yield overlays, settlement overlays, and settlement expansion screens effectively. The absence of some Civ 6 lenses (appeal, tourism, loyalty) is a drawback, as is the lack of customizable map pins. While not terrible, improvement is possible.

Searching, Filtering, and Sorting Options

Search, filtering, and sorting are crucial for managing information overload. Search bars, filters, and sort options streamline navigation.

Civ 6 excels here. Its powerful search function locates resources, units, and features on the map. Its Civilopedia links seamlessly to in-game elements.

Civ 7 lacks this crucial search function, a significant usability issue. The absence is a major drawback. Improved Civilopedia functionality is also needed.

Design and Visual Consistency

UI aesthetics and cohesiveness are vital. A poorly designed UI detracts from the experience, regardless of gameplay quality.

Civ 6's dynamic, cartographic style is highly praised. Its aesthetic complements all game elements.

Civ 7 employs a minimalist, sleek design. The color palette (black and gold) is well-chosen, but the overall aesthetic is less immediately striking than Civ 6's. This subtle approach has led to mixed reactions, highlighting the subjective nature of visual design.

The Verdict: Not the Worst, But Room for Improvement

Civ 7's UI isn't the best, but the overwhelmingly negative response is unwarranted. While key features (search function) are missing, it's not game-breaking. Compared to other issues, the UI's flaws are minor. While it falls short of some competitors, its strengths should be acknowledged. Further updates and player feedback will likely improve it significantly. The current state, however, is not as disastrous as many claim.

← Return to Sid Meier's Civilization VII main article

Sid Meier's Civilization VII Similar Games