7 Wonders (2010) Board Game – Board Game Guys

7 Wonders is a board game designed by Antoine Bauza and published by Repos Production in in 2010. It has gained popularity for its unique gameplay mechanics and strategic depth. The game is set in ancient times, where players take on the roles of leaders of different civilizations, building wonders and developing their cities to achieve victory.

Game Components of 7 Wonders

7 Wonder boards

148 Age cards: 49 Age I cards, 49 Age II cards, and 50 Age III cards

78 Coins: 54 Coins of value 1, and 24 Coins of value 3

48 Military Conflict tokens: 24 Defeats and 24 Victories (8 per Age)

1 pad of score sheets

3 quick reference sheets describing the effects of the cards

1 List of cards and chaining leaflet

1 rulebook.

How To Setup 7 Wonders

To set up the game, each player randomly receives a Wonder board, depicting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The boards are double-sided, with side A generally easier to build and side B offering more complex benefits. Players start with a hand of seven cards, which are dealt randomly at the beginning of each Age. The game is divided into three Ages, each using its own deck of cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Drafting: Players select a card from their hand and pass the remaining cards to the next player.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources (coins or one of seven resource types) to build structures.

Military Conflicts: Players compare military icons on red cards at the end of each Age to resolve conflicts.

Wonder Building: Players can use cards to build stages of their Wonder.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by building structures, resolving military conflicts, and constructing stages of the Wonder.

Victory points are earned through various means: building scientific structures, constructing guilds, resolving military conflicts, and completing the Wonder.

Player Experience

Players experience a dynamic game environment where each turn involves strategic decision-making. The game’s simultaneous play mechanic ensures minimal downtime, keeping all players engaged throughout. However, the game’s complexity increases with the number of players, requiring more attention to opponents’ moves at higher player counts. Despite this, the game remains fast-paced and engaging, with each player’s choices feeling significant and impactful.

Pros

Fast Gameplay: The game is quick, lasting only about 30 minutes regardless of the player count.

Important Decisions: Each choice feels significant and influences the game’s outcome.

Asymmetric Gameplay: The use of special powers via the Wonders adds variety to each playthrough.

Minimal Downtime: Simultaneous play ensures all players are involved throughout the game.

Aesthetic Appeal: The game’s illustrations and scoresheet are praised for their quality.

Cons

Complex Scoring: The end-of-game scoring can be complex and time-consuming.

Higher Player Count Issues: The game can become slower and more complicated with 5 or more players.

Dependence on Seating Order: The game’s outcome can be influenced significantly by the seating order and the cards passed between players.

Personal Thoughts on 7 Wonders

**7 Wonders** is ideal for those looking for a dynamic, fast-paced card drafting game that accommodates a broad player count. It is particularly suited for groups seeking a game with minimal downtime and significant strategic depth. However, players who prefer simpler scoring mechanisms or find the higher player count overwhelming might find other games more appealing. For collectors with a smaller game library, **7 Wonders** fills a unique niche, but with a larger collection, it might not remain a top choice due to its complexity and the emergence of other similar games.

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