I’ve been a diehard Civilization fan for over a decade, logging more than 2,000 hours across every mainline entry on PC. When the console port of the latest entry was announced, I was skeptical that the complex, menu-heavy gameplay would translate well to a controller. I spent 32 hours testing the port on both PS5 and Xbox Series X to put together this civilization 7 console review, so you don’t have to waste your money on a dud port.
What Stands Out in Our Civilization 7 Console Review Testing
The first thing I noticed when booting up the game was how well the development team adapted the UI for TV screens. There’s no squinting at tiny text or fumbling through nested menus to find the command you need. Fully customizable controller layouts let you map frequently used actions like ending your turn or opening the city build menu to shoulder buttons, so you don’t have to scroll through menus every two seconds. I tested the default layout for 10 hours before switching to a custom setup, and both felt intuitive even for someone who’s only ever played Civ with a mouse and keyboard. Performance was another high point: I got a steady 60fps at 4K on both current gen consoles, even in late game with 20+ cities and 30 active units on the map. Load times for new saves clocked in at 12 seconds on average, which is 25% faster than my mid-tier PC rig.
Key Differences Between Console and PC Versions of Civ 7
It’s no secret that console ports of strategy games usually cut some features to work on hardware designed for simpler control schemes, and Civ 7 is no exception. The biggest missing feature for long-time fans is no mod support on console, so you won’t be able to use custom civilizations, UI overhauls, or gameplay mods that change the core loop. As we noted earlier in this civilization 7 console review, the UI adjustments make the game far more accessible for console players than previous Civ ports, but the lack of mod support is a big downside for players who rely on mods to keep playthroughs fresh. There are also a few exclusive features you won’t find on PC, including local split-screen couch co-op that lets you play with a friend on the same console. I tested this with my roommate, and it worked flawlessly, no stutter or screen tearing even when we were both managing large empires at the same time. Crossplay is limited to PS5 and Xbox players right now, so you can’t join matches with your friends who own the game on PC.
Who Is the Civ 7 Console Version Best Suited For?
Before you drop $60 on the console version, it’s important to make sure it fits how you like to play strategy games. After testing all the features and limitations, here’s who we think will get the most out of the port:
- Casual players who don’t want to mess with PC hardware updates or mod installation to jump into a quick Civ match
- People who prefer playing games from their couch instead of sitting at a desk for hours at a time
- Veteran Civ fans who want a secondary way to play when they don’t feel like booting up their PC
- Groups of friends who host regular game nights and want a co-op strategy game that doesn’t require everyone to bring their own laptop
If you fall into any of those groups, you’ll probably love the console port. That said, it’s not for everyone. If you play competitive Civ multiplayer, controller input is roughly 15% slower than mouse and keyboard for quick actions like unit micro and city management, so you’ll be at a significant disadvantage against PC players. It’s also not a good pick if you exclusively play Civ with mods, since there’s no indication mod support will be added to consoles any time soon. If you’ve been waiting for a console port that doesn’t feel like an afterthought, this civilization 7 console review confirms that this is the one you’ve been waiting for.
Common Issues to Watch for With the Civ 7 Console Port
For the most part, the port is incredibly polished, but I did run into a few small issues during my testing that are worth noting. One of the most pleasant surprises of this civilization 7 console review is how few game-breaking bugs we encountered, especially compared to other recent strategy game ports. The most frequent bug I encountered was a 2 to 3 second freeze when opening the quick menu if I had more than 15 active units on the map. It never crashed the game, but it was annoying enough that I started grouping units together to cut down on the number of active units on screen. Text is still slightly small on 1080p TVs if you’re sitting more than 10 feet away, so you might want to sit closer if you have an older TV. Cloud saves only work between same-platform consoles right now, so you can’t transfer your save file from PS5 to Xbox, or from console to PC. If you play on last gen consoles (PS4 or Xbox One), I’d recommend waiting for a performance patch before buying, as multiple users have reported frequent frame rate drops and long load times in late game.
At the end of the day, this civilization 7 console review finds the port to be one of the best strategy game console releases we’ve seen in years. It’s not perfect, and it’s missing a few features that make the PC version so beloved, but it’s a polished, fun way to play Civ 7 if you prefer consoles or couch play. I’ve been playing a casual playthrough on my PS5 before bed every night this week, and it’s quickly become my go-to way to play the game when I don’t feel like sitting at my desk. If you’re on the fence, wait for a sale if you’re a casual player, but if you’re a long-time Civ fan who’s wanted to play on console, it’s well worth the full price.