Civ 7 UI: Bad as Claimed?

Is Civ 7's user interface really as bad as the internet claims? Released just a day ago for those who purchased the Deluxe and Founder’s Editions, the game has already sparked debate, particularly regarding its UI and other perceived shortcomings. While it’s tempting to jump on the bandwagon of criticism, it’s worth taking a moment to critically evaluate whether the UI truly deserves such harsh judgment. To do this, we’ll break it down piece by piece and assess it against the standards set by the best 4X interfaces in the industry.

What Defines a Strong 4X UI?

While experts agree on certain universal principles for designing a great 4X UI, the truth is that context matters. Depending on a game’s goals and audience, not every guideline applies universally. However, examining successful examples can help us identify common traits of effective UIs.

Let’s put Civ 7’s UI under the microscope and see how it stacks up against these benchmarks.

Clear Information Hierarchy

A good UI organizes information in a logical way, prioritizing essential data and placing less critical details within easy reach. For example, Against the Storm excels in this area by offering intuitive building menus with tabs tailored to frequent versus rare interactions.

Civ 7’s resource summary menu is functional but falls short in granularity. While it neatly separates data into categories like income and expenses, it lacks specifics about individual districts or hexes contributing to yields. Additionally, expense breakdowns are limited compared to its predecessor, Civ 6.

Verdict: Functional, but could benefit from more depth.

Effective Visual Indicators

Icons, colors, and overlays should communicate vital information instantly. Stellaris demonstrates this well with its Outliner, which uses visuals to show ship statuses at a glance.

Civ 7 employs tile yield overlays and settlement color coding effectively, though it lacks some of the customization tools present in Civ 6, such as appeal and loyalty lenses. The absence of map pins also frustrates many players.

Verdict: Decent, but room for enhancement.

Search, Filter, and Sort Options

When managing complex systems, search and filter functions are indispensable. Civ 6’s robust search tool allows players to locate specific resources or tiles effortlessly. Unfortunately, Civ 7 lacks this feature entirely, creating significant usability challenges.

Verdict: A glaring omission that impacts gameplay negatively.

Design and Visual Consistency

The UI’s aesthetics play a crucial role in player satisfaction. Civ 6’s dynamic, cartographic style reinforces its grandeur and theme. In contrast, Civ 7 adopts a minimalist, refined aesthetic that aligns with its sophisticated tone but may alienate players accustomed to flashier designs.

Verdict: Visually cohesive but not as engaging as its predecessor.

Final Thoughts

While Civ 7’s UI isn’t perfect, it’s not the disaster some claim. It misses key features like a search function, which is a notable oversight. However, it’s not a dealbreaker compared to the game’s other strengths. With updates and feedback, it has potential to improve. For now, it’s a solid effort, but not exceptional.

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