The best settings to run Civilization 7 on Steam Deck

Civilization 7 reignites the iconic 4X franchise for 2025, and some fans are curious if the game can run on the Steam Deck.

The return of Civilization awakened many fans from a long slumber. While the launch did have mixed reception, most players agree the gameplay is some of the best the franchise has ever had. Once Firaxis fixes significant issues like Civilization 7 not launching and the UI weirdness, the game will have a more positive reception. With exciting changes for Civilization 7 like mix-and-match leaders, many players are eager to replay the game regardless.

As a 4X title,  it’s to be expected the game will take up a ton of playtime for the average gamer. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same is true in Civilization 7. Playing on the go is most definitely a want amongst fans of the franchise.

Can Steam Deck run Civilization 7?

Civilization 7 is “Verified” on Steam Deck, meaning the game will run very well on the handheld console.  Unlike some games, wherein player data had to be gathered during the launch period, Civilization 7 is Steam Deck-ready from the get-go. In an official post from the Civilization Twitter/X account, it was confirmed Civilization 7 was officially Steam Deck Verified.

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The status applies to both versions of the Steam Deck, meaning it’s relatively plug-and-play by the developer’s standards. Despite the status, the launch revealed some optimization needed for an overall better experience.  The complexity of Civilization 7’s map resulted in performance issues for unoptimized games.

The best settings for Civilization 7 on Steam Deck

Civilization 7 will run best on low settings for Steam Deck. Civilization 7 had significant performance issues in its initial launch week as with many modern games. On PC, the game already received criticisms for its performance, with many noting stutters as each age progressed.

These problems are more pronounced on the Steam Deck port. As of February 2025, the game struggles to run at a stable 60 FPS, even on the lowest settings. These issues are being gradually patched out. In the meantime, players must stick to low settings for a wholesome experience.

Low Settings (Performance)

Civilization 7 struggles to load the longer a game goes. As more units spawn and places are discovered, performance must be the focus for players. Although Civilization 7 may look slightly jagged on the Steam Deck,  the game runs smoothly without any crashes.  Some players report manually capping the game to 30 can result, but results may vary depending on the Steam Deck used.

Check these settings for an optimized low graphics experience for Civilization 7.

General

• Enable Vertical Sync – Off
• Upscale/Anti-aliasing mode – AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 Anti-Aliasing (and Upscaling)
• Graphics Profile – Low

Advanced

• Ambient Occlusion – Low
• Screen Space Reflections – Off
• Screen Space Shadows – Off
• Screen Space Overlay – Off
• Bloom – Off
• Asset Quality – Medium
• Texture Quality – Medium
• Particle Quality – Low
• Shadow Quality – Low
• Water Quality – Low
• Image Sharpness – Medium

Players can tweak these settings slightly if the visuals don’t feel quite right. In practice, these settings offer the best in-game visual quality with relatively few dips in performance.