The Civilization 7 development team has emphasized why even series veterans should complete the tutorial before diving into their initial full campaign.
Firaxis Games' creative director Ed Beach shared gameplay advice through Steam, stating: "Civilization 7 introduces numerous fresh mechanics that set it apart from previous installments. We want every player to enjoy their debut experience, which is why we've implemented these thoughtful recommendations."
The radical new Ages system represents perhaps the most significant departure for the franchise. A complete Civilization 7 campaign spans three historical eras: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. When transitioning between Ages, players simultaneously select new civilizations, preserve chosen Legacies, and witness world evolution - mechanics unprecedented in the series' history.
AnswerSee ResultsBeach elaborated on Firaxis selecting Small as Civilization 7's default map size: "While veterans typically prefer massive battlefields with numerous civilizations, we've purposefully chosen Small maps for accessibility. Having three rivals on your home continent simplifies learning while still offering strategic depth."
"This scale proves particularly beneficial when mastering our revamped Diplomacy system," he continued. "Managing relations becomes more intuitive when dealing with fewer opponents, allowing players to better understand Diplomatic Influence mechanics."
The Continents Plus map type receives specific endorsement from Beach: "Its coastal islands serve as perfect stepping stones toward oceanic exploration - a crucial component of the Exploration Age."
The tutorial activates automatically for first-time players, with Beach urging even experienced strategists to keep it enabled initially: "Our dynamic tutorial delivers contextual guidance precisely when encountering new systems. While series veterans might hesitate, the numerous gameplay evolutions justify completing one full three-Age campaign with tutorial support."
"Players can customize their learning experience by selecting individual Advisors," Beach noted. "We suggest focusing on one Advisor's guidance at a time for optimal information absorption."
Once comfortable, transitioning to Only Warnings mode proves beneficial: "These strategic alerts prevent catastrophic empire declines - even our development team keeps them active!" Beach revealed.
Firaxis recently showcased Civilization 7's post-launch content roadmap during a dedicated livestream (notably announcing Great Britain as DLC). The title launches February 11 across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, with Deluxe Edition owners gaining early access starting February 6.
