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

The developer of Civilization 7, Firaxis Games, has provided a compelling reason for even seasoned players to engage with the tutorial during their initial foray into the game. In a detailed post on Steam, Ed Beach, the creative director, shared insights and tips to ensure a successful first experience with the game.

Beach emphasized the complexity and novelty of Civilization 7, stating, "Civilization 7 is a big game, with many new systems and mechanics that differentiate it from earlier games in our series. There's a lot to learn, so we felt that it was important that we provide some suggestions to ensure everyone has a successful first experience." This introduction is particularly pertinent to the game's new Ages system, a significant departure from previous entries in the franchise. A full campaign in Civilization 7 spans three distinct Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each Age Transition involves selecting a new civilization, choosing Legacies to carry forward, and witnessing the evolution of the game world, a feature unique to Civilization 7.

Addressing map size preferences, Beach explained the choice of Small as the default map size, "We know that many veteran Civ players love to play on the largest map size and see the maximum number of empires battle it out. However, there's a very deliberate reason that we chose Small as the default map size. With three other empires on your home continent, and a few more to discover later in the game, Small Maps make for a very comfortable experience while you are learning the ins and outs of Civ 7." He particularly highlighted the benefits of this setting for mastering the new Diplomacy system, which is easier to navigate with fewer opponents. Additionally, he recommended the Continents Plus map type to facilitate ocean exploration, a crucial aspect of the Exploration Age.

Regarding the tutorial, Beach was clear in his advice: "The Tutorial is designed to provide tips and explanations exactly when you first encounter something new. Fans experienced with earlier Civ titles may scoff at the idea of playing with the Tutorial on, but with so many of our game systems having received upgrades and revisions, we really do recommend sticking with the Tutorial for your first full campaign through our three Ages." He also noted the utility of the game's four Advisors, suggesting players focus on one at a time to manage the learning curve effectively.

For those who feel ready to venture beyond the tutorial, Beach suggested switching to the "Only Warnings" setting, which allows Advisors to alert players to potential major setbacks, a feature even used by the Firaxis team internally.

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

What is your favorite Sid Meier's Civilization game?

Sid Meier's CivilizationSid Meier's Civilization IISid Meier's Civilization IIISid Meier's Civilization IVSid Meier's Civilization VSid Meier's Civilization VIOne of the other Civ games (like Civilization Revolution)