7 Wonders is a tactical card game for 3-7 players, but I would personally highly recommend at least four players to keep things more interesting. It has relatively short playing time in approximately 30 minutes, but the first game can take a bit longer while learning the rules of the game. The game isn’t exactly rocket science but has some twist and turns that might take a few playing turns to learn.
1 – 7 Wonders in its whole glory. Picture from www.rpod.com.
In the game every player controls a different civilization from the past times. The idea is to develop your civilization, or rather than your city by scientific discoveries, military success, and commercial advantages. Players also have a shot to build one of the 7 wonders to their city to gain advantage over others. A game of 7 Wonders progresses trough three ages, rounds, where you choose cards for your playing tactic and own benefit. Each round the players are given a shared pack of cards for a rotation where in turns they choose one to keep to theirselves. After each turn, the chosen cards are played to the table. The idea of a shared card pack is somewhat unusual and, in my opinion, brings some tension to the game because others can snatch cards from under your nose.
As said, the game is relatively simple, but you can develop quite interesting and complex strategies in it. A lot of this has to do with the fact that you are, as said, choosing from the same cards as your opponents. The short playing time is the strength of this game because it lures players to play “just one more game” and I think it would be rather boring move just to play one game of 7 Wonders at time. A definitive plus to the game is that players make their decisions and moves at the same time so there isn’t much waiting time between rounds.
2 – The cards have different categories. Screenshot taken from rprod.com.
The illustrations in 7 Wonders are quite pleasing to your eyes and bring some nice immersion to the game, but nothing too special. The publisher also promises that the game is suitable for color blind players also. There are symbols in each card to assist in every type of color blindness. I think this is a nice add and its a pity that some board games still miss these kind of features.
All and all I think 7 Wonders is a rather simple game while still retaining the right for some more tactical gaming. This makes it a fun party game where you lust for victory against your opponents because of previous losses. You can play one game of it and enjoy the gaming or play ten games of it and enjoy the gaming even more.
Basic information:
Designer: Antoine Bauza
Publisher: Repos Production
Release date: 2010 (1st edition), 2020 (2nd edition)
Players: 3-7 players
Game time: 30+ minutes
Age: 10+
Pictures:
Banner – picture (Repos Production) – https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-rprod/storage/games/7-wonders/sev-box-3d-1592411287XEcT9.png
1 – picture (Repos Production) – https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-rprod/storage/games/7-wonders/sev-content-159243209212Feq.png
2 – screenshot (Repos Production) – https://www.rprod.com/en/games/7-wonders
Casual gamer who enjoys different style of games from retro beat 'em ups and getting beated up in roguelikes to modern online FPS games with friends.
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