Civilization 7 Dev Recommends Even Experts Stick With the Tutorial for Their First Full Campaign — Here’s Why

Firaxis' Creative Director, Ed Beach, urges even seasoned Civilization players to utilize the tutorial for their initial Civilization 7 campaign. In a Steam post, Beach highlights the game's significant departures from previous installments, emphasizing the importance of a smooth learning curve.

Civilization 7 introduces a novel "Ages" system, drastically altering gameplay. A full campaign spans Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each concluding with a simultaneous Age Transition for all players. This transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing which legacies to retain, and witnessing world evolution—a unique feature in the series.

The default map size, Small, is a deliberate choice. While veteran players might prefer larger maps, Beach explains that Small maps, with a manageable number of opponents, facilitate learning the new systems, particularly the Diplomacy system and its influence management. Continents Plus map type is also recommended for easier ocean exploration, a crucial aspect of the Exploration Age.

The tutorial is automatically enabled for first-time players and strongly recommended for all, even experienced players. It provides timely tips and explanations for new mechanics. The game features four Advisors, each guiding players through specific game aspects. Beach suggests focusing on one Advisor at a time initially.

Even after mastering the core mechanics, Beach advises 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 that Great Britain will be released as DLC. Civilization 7 launches on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on February 11th, with Deluxe Edition access starting February 6th.