The distinction between wargames and empire building/civilization games can be slight, but the latter usually have more emphasis on politics, economics, trade and the growth of your culture, as opposed to just beating enemy armies.
The culmination of twenty years work, Mare Nostrum is a game of early civilizations set around the Mediterranean. The rules are simple but the mix of warfare, trading and diplomacy is rich, while the board is a joy to look at and a game should only take an evening.
Set in the same area as Mare Nostrum, but many centuries later, Serenissima is a game of trading in the Renaissance. Players adopt a merchant family, build a fleet and try to trade their way to domination – a process which can take less than 120 minutes and is easy to explain! However, this isn’t strictly an empire building game, so the military minded may be put-off.
With small island hexes and wonderful little plastic pieces, Hellas might seem to be a children’s game, but this representation of the struggle for Greek supremacy contains surprising depth, excitement and competition while being suitable for almost all ages. As such, it’s especially suitable for a parent and child to play, making a nice lead into something educational.
At the risk of stating the obvious, this game is set during the early period of European civilization and is thus set around the Mediterranean. The pieces certainly aren’t as visually appealing as the competition, but the rules provide interesting gameplay mechanisms while remaining short and easy to explain.
A highly stylized game of competing civilizations for up to six players, Vinci is played on a map that, although abstracted, is still clearly Europe. Gameplay differs here because you have to switch between nations as time passes – as opposed to guiding the same people throughout – to win. A single game should take less than two hours.
Albrecht von Wallenstein was a powerful Duke during the Thirty Years War and this game is set during the first two of those years. Players game across a map of historical Germany in an attempt to finish as the strongest player after eight seasons. The period may seem artificially short, but the game’s mixture of building, taxing, supplying and attacking is deep and takes several hours.
Set during the colonial era, the players assume the role of European powers carving the world up into their individual empires. Such an emotive and contentious period will alienate some gamers and attract others, while the unusual system of alliances (you can’t change them mid-war) will do exactly the same!
A game of cities, rather than countries, fighting for power and empire in the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, Age of Renaissance has a good period feel rather than a strict historical scenario. However, while none of the 3-6 players ever get expelled until the end, this deep game can take a very long time to play!
9. Revolution: The Dutch Revolt 1568-1648
The protracted 16th/17th century struggle between Spain and the Netherlands might seem better suited to an out and out wargame than an empire builder, but conquest is only one of your options in ‘Revolution: The Dutch Revolt’, where religious, political and economic factors must all be juggled. Not the most popular theme ever, but a good attempt at overlooked event.Yet another trading game set in the Ancient Mediterranean? Well, yes, but Tyros has some interesting mechanics and odd abstractions which make sailing your way to economic (and imperial) success a very different challenge to any other game listed here. Mainly card based, for 3-4 players and lasting under two hours this contentious game is worth a try.
