Empire’s End (2023) Board Game

Empire’s End is a board game released in 2023 by Brotherwise Games. Designed by John D. Clair, this game falls under the category of Ancient Civilization. With its unique gameplay mechanics and stunning artwork by Kwanchai Moriya, Empire’s End promises an immersive gaming experience for 2 to 4 players.

Game Components of Empire’s End

Empire tiles: 11 tiles per player, representing different parts of the empire like City, Town, Road, and Farm, each with a point value ranging from 3-32 points.

Disaster cards: Representing calamities such as floods, famine, and barbarians.

Resource tokens: Food, hammers, swords, and coins.

Innovation cards: Granting new abilities and points.

Game board: Featuring phases for Disaster, Economy, Conflict, and Industry.

Player screens: To hide resource availability.

How To Setup Empire’s End

Players start by randomly distributing their 11 empire tiles in a specific order, with all players matching the first player’s setup. Each player has a set of resources and a player screen to manage these resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Disaster Phase: Players bid resources to avoid disaster cards, which devastate empire tiles. The player who takes the disaster gains all bid resources and an innovation.

Economy Phase: Players gain new resources and trading opportunities.

Conflict Phase: Players engage in combat to score points and acquire resources.

Industry Phase: Players can build innovations, repair damaged tiles, and swap tile locations.

Objective: The goal is to manage your empire to maximize victory points by maintaining intact territories and acquiring innovations and military successes.

Player Experience

In Empire’s End, players navigate the challenges of maintaining their civilization in the face of numerous disasters. The game is characterized by its reverse-bidding mechanism, similar to No Thanks, where resources bid to avoid a disaster go to the player who ultimately takes it. This mechanic adds a layer of strategy and tension, as players must balance the cost of avoiding disasters with the benefits of gaining resources and innovations. The game also features military conflicts and opportunities for rebuilding and innovation, making each game unique and dynamic.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The reverse-bidding system and engine-building aspects create a compelling gameplay experience.

Strategic Depth: Players must manage resources, avoid disasters, and engage in military conflicts, offering multiple paths to victory.

Replayability: Random disaster cards and variable player powers ensure high replay value.

Quick Tempo: The game has a fast-paced nature, despite its strategic challenges.

Cons

Randomness: The game involves a significant amount of randomness, which may not appeal to all players.

Double Disaster Phases: These phases can feel repetitive and may drag the game out, especially in 3-4 player games.

Complex Rules: Some players may find the rules and interactions between different phases and mechanics complex to learn.

Personal Thoughts on Empire’s End

Empire’s End is ideal for players who enjoy strategic planning, engine-building, and bidding mechanics. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games with a mix of short-term tactical decisions and long-term strategic planning. However, players who dislike randomness or complex rule sets might find this game less appealing. Overall, it offers a unique and challenging experience that rewards careful resource management and innovative thinking.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.