Why is 7 Wonders a fun game to play?

Per Damgaard Husted
The Board Gamer’s Almanac
5 min readJan 30, 2023

7 Wonders is a fast-paced, card drafting board game for 2 to 7 players. Players take on the role of ancient civilizations, each with unique abilities and resources, and must build their civilization from the ground up by constructing buildings and wonders, trading resources, and developing their military power.

Each turn, players draft cards from a shared pool, selecting one card to add to their civilization and passing the remaining cards to the next player. The cards represent various structures, resources, and other benefits that can be used to build a powerful civilization. The game also features a unique “three-tiered” tableau, with players building their structures in different levels to create a towering, multi-layered civilization.

The game is won by earning the most victory points, which are earned by constructing buildings and wonders, acquiring resources, and developing military power. 7 Wonders is known for its quick pace, high level of strategy, and ease of play, making it a popular choice for both casual and experienced gamers. The game features high-quality components, including beautifully illustrated cards, and is known for its short play time and high level of replayability.

7 Wonders is a highly regarded board game that has received positive reviews from players and critics alike. The game is praised for its balanced blend of strategy and player interaction, offering a variety of paths to victory and keeping gameplay fresh and interesting. The game’s simple rules and quick play time make it accessible to a wide range of players, while its replayability ensures that it remains enjoyable for multiple plays.

Visually, the game is appealing and well-designed, with high-quality components and easy-to-follow icons. The game’s theme, which focuses on the construction of ancient civilizations, adds an immersive element that further enhances the overall player experience.

Overall, 7 Wonders is a fun and engaging game that offers a satisfying gaming experience for players of all skill levels. Its combination of strategy, player interaction, and replayability make it a must-have addition to any board game collection.

What I like:

  1. Strategic gameplay: 7 Wonders offers a balanced blend of strategy and player interaction, allowing players to pursue a variety of paths to victory and keeping gameplay fresh and interesting.
  2. Quick play time: The game’s simple rules and fast pace make it accessible to a wide range of players and ensure that gameplay remains engaging and focused.
  3. Replayability: 7 Wonders has high replayability due to the various paths to victory and the constantly changing landscape of player interactions, ensuring that it remains enjoyable for multiple plays.

What I dislike:

  1. Player elimination: 7 Wonders can result in players being eliminated early on, which can make the game less enjoyable for some players.
  2. Limited player interaction: There is limited direct player interaction in 7 Wonders, which can make it less social compared to other board games.
  3. Complexity: 7 Wonders is considered a complex game, which can make it difficult for new players to understand and get started.

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What is the history behind 7 Wonders?

7 Wonders is a board game designed by Antoine Bauza and was first published in 2010 by Repos Production. The game was inspired by the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and players take on the role of leaders of ancient civilizations trying to build their own wonders. The game was well received by both players and critics, winning several awards for its innovative gameplay and high replayability. Since its release, 7 Wonders has been reprinted in several different languages and has become a popular choice for board game enthusiasts around the world.

Feature summary

  1. Civilization building: 7 Wonders is a civilization building game where players develop their own civilization by constructing buildings and wonders.
  2. Resource management: Players must manage their resources, such as raw materials and money, in order to build their civilization.
  3. Player interaction: Players can interact with each other through card drafting, which affects the development of their civilizations.
  4. Three-age game structure: 7 Wonders is divided into three ages, each with its own unique challenges and objectives.
  5. Short playtime: 7 Wonders can be played in about 30 minutes to an hour, making it a good choice for a quick game.
  6. Replayability: 7 Wonders has high replayability due to the randomized set of cards used in each game and the variety of civilizations that can be built.

What are the best alternatives to 7 Wonders?

  1. Carcassonne: A tile-laying game that involves building a medieval landscape, Carcassonne is a popular alternative to 7 Wonders.
  2. Ticket to Ride: A popular train-themed board game, Ticket to Ride involves collecting and playing cards to claim railway routes and connect cities.
  3. Settlers of Catan: A classic strategy game, Settlers of Catan involves players building and managing their own settlements on the island of Catan.
  4. Pandemic: A cooperative game where players work together to stop the spread of deadly diseases, Pandemic is a popular alternative to 7 Wonders.
  5. Dominion: A deck-building game where players compete to build the most powerful kingdom, Dominion is another popular alternative to 7 Wonders.
  6. Splendor: A gem-themed game, Splendor involves players collecting and playing gems to purchase development cards and build their own empire.

Originally published at https://scryper.com on January 30, 2023.

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Per Damgaard Husted
The Board Gamer’s Almanac

Founder and CEO of HubWis. Know how to succeed in the Age of AI.