Civ 7 Dev Urges All Players to Use Tutorial for First Campaign - Here's Why

The creative director at Firaxis Games, Ed Beach, recently shared his insights on Steam about why even seasoned players of the Civilization series should consider using the tutorial for their first full campaign in Civilization 7. "Civilization 7 introduces a plethora of new systems and mechanics, setting it apart from its predecessors," Beach stated. "To ensure a rewarding first experience, we strongly recommend utilizing the tutorial."

One of the significant new features in Civilization 7 is the Ages system, which marks a departure from previous games in the series. A complete campaign involves navigating through three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. At the end of each Age, players and AI opponents undergo an Age Transition. This process includes selecting a new civilization from the upcoming Age, deciding which Legacies to carry forward, and witnessing the evolution of the game world—a feature unprecedented in the Civilization series.

Beach also shed light on the decision to set the default map size to Small in Civilization 7. "We understand that many veteran players prefer larger maps with numerous empires," he noted. "However, opting for a Small map size, with three empires on your home continent and additional ones to discover, provides a more manageable experience for newcomers learning the game. This is particularly beneficial when getting accustomed to our new Diplomacy system, as it simplifies tracking relationships and diplomatic activities with fewer opponents."

For map types, Beach recommended sticking with Continents Plus, which features additional islands near the shorelines. This setting aids in easing players into ocean exploration, a crucial aspect of the Exploration Age.

Regarding the tutorial and Advisors, Beach emphasized their importance. "The tutorial is designed to offer guidance and explanations at the moment you encounter new elements," he explained. Even experienced players are encouraged to keep the tutorial on for their initial full game through all three Ages. "With significant updates to our game systems, the tutorial can be invaluable," Beach added.

The game features four Advisors, and players can choose to follow a single Advisor at a time to avoid information overload. Once players feel confident enough to turn off the tutorial, Beach suggests switching to the "Only Warnings" setting. "This allows the Advisors to alert you of potential major setbacks to your empire's progress," he said. "Even our team at Firaxis keeps these warnings on, despite our familiarity with the game."

Firaxis also revealed the post-launch roadmap for Civilization 7 during a special livestream event, indicating that Great Britain will be available as DLC. The game is set to launch on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S on February 11, with the Deluxe Edition offering early access from February 6.