Steam version of Civilization 7 is free until September 10 – the game is gradually catching up to the fifth installment in online players

Firaxis Games has made Civilization 7 free to play on Steam through September 10. Just head to the game page and hit the "Play Game" button, then let the files download – no payment required.

Civilization 7 had a rough launch in early 2025. Firaxis made several changes to the series formula that didn't sit well with a large chunk of the fan base, the UI drew near-universal criticism, and performance left a lot to be desired.

The studio has kept working on the game since then, though results have been mixed. A major update in May gave player numbers on Steam a solid boost, but user reviews split almost right down the middle. Civilization 7 still carries a "mixed" rating on Steam, with only 48% positive reviews, and concurrent player counts on the platform remain neck-and-neck with the 16-year-old Civilization 5.

Plenty of fans still hold a soft spot for the fifth entry in the series, but Firaxis and Take-Two would surely like to see that audience move over to the new game. The free trial is one way to make that happen: players have nothing to lose, and the studio gets a chance to show just how much Civilization 7 has changed over a year and a half of updates.

If the trial period convinces you it's worth sticking around, the standard and deluxe editions are available at 50% off until September 17.