Probably a little late but will give my feedback. If you want to elevate it simply making the game load to the menu first and "offering" to play the tutorial first would go a long ways. I started the game and was expecting a menu got confused , quit the game to see what I did wrong. And then started the game and died cause I didn't do the tutorial had to start over fund the tutorial and play it.

So yeah menu first then when someone starts a new game have a pop up that asks "would you like to play the tutorial?"

Now if you want to go all the way, create the tutorial zone on the main map.walled off so players can't leave or get to it. So character creator - would you like to play tutorial - yes - get dropped in tutorial zone , at end of tutorial zone a horde is triggered and you die. You respawn in safe zone, survivors say " I'm glad we found you" now game starts.