XCOM 2: should I start with the tutorial?
Game Tip
Some have debated whether to start XCOM 2 with the tutorial or not. If you are new to the game, the tutorial will give you some interesting background for the story, so I would encourage you to play it at least the first time through.
TL;DR: Skipping the tutorial gives you more freedom and probably a slight advantage.
Here's an analysis from XCOM 2 War of the Chosen on Xbox One:
| Feature | Play Tutorial | No Tutorial |
|---|---|---|
| Ironman mode | not allowed | allowed |
| starting personnel | 13 soldiers, 2 Eng, 1 Sci | 13 soldiers (no Jane Kelly), 2 Eng, 1 Sci |
| forced Medkit build | yes | no |
| forced Research order | yes (Alien Biotech first) | no |
| Facilities | GTS 5-7 days away | GTS done, plus 1 empty room |
Playing with the tutorial also requires watching 3 more cutscenes and playing through one scripted mission that has embedded cutscenes. The loot and soldiers acquired are of comparable rank.
I hope this has helped. You really cannot go wrong either way since the differences are fairly small.
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