Civilization 7: Expert Guide Hails Tutorial's Value

Firaxis Games' creative director, Ed Beach, urges even seasoned Civilization players to utilize the tutorial in Civilization 7 for their initial full campaign. His Steam post details why the tutorial is crucial for a smooth introduction to the game's novel mechanics.

Beach highlights the significant changes introduced in Civ 7, particularly the Ages system (Antiquity, Exploration, Modern), which dramatically alters gameplay. Each Age transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing retained Legacies, and witnessing a world evolution – a unique feature in the series. This complexity necessitates a guided introduction.

The default map size, Small, is intentionally chosen to ease players into the game. With a manageable number of opponents, players can comfortably learn the intricacies of Civ 7's new Diplomacy system and manage Diplomatic Influence. The Continents Plus map type is also recommended, leveraging offshore islands to facilitate ocean exploration, a central aspect of the Exploration Age.

The tutorial, automatically enabled on first launch, provides timely tips and explanations. Beach strongly advises veteran players to use it, at least for their first full campaign, emphasizing the significant system upgrades and revisions. Players can choose which of the four Advisors to follow, focusing on one at a time if needed.

Even after mastering the core systems, Beach suggests switching to the "Only Warnings" setting. This allows Advisors to alert players to potential setbacks, a practice even the Firaxis development team employs.

Firaxis also revealed Civilization 7's post-launch roadmap during a livestream, noting the game's release date (February 11th on PC via Steam and various consoles; February 6th for the Deluxe Edition). The announcement also highlighted that Great Britain will be released as DLC.