7 WONDERS BOARD GAME REVIEW

Table of Contents

Board game review: 7 Wonders

When people ask me which board games they should definitely buy, 7 Wonders is invariably part of my list of recommendations.

The game was released in 2010 and has already won more than 30 international awards, including ‘ Spiel des Jahres’ in 2011. It has now become a true classic .

Do you want to know why the game is so appreciated? And whether it is something for you? You find out in this 7 Wonders board game review . Enjoy!

Board game 7 Wonders – Theme & Design

Theme

In 7 Wonders you lead one of the seven great cities of the ancient world . To earn your place in history and surpass the other cities, you build a glorious civilization, with the icing on the cake a monumental wonder of the world that will stand the test of time.

During 3 eras, you’ll harness your country’s natural resources, strive for scientific advancement, develop your trade and strengthen your military might. This is how you build up profit points . The player with the most victory points makes history as the victor!

Appearance

Board game 7 Wonders has been designed very nicely by Miguel Coimbra . The beautiful illustrations are a feast for the eyes and steal the show everywhere: from the cover of the box to the game components. The atmosphere is set immediately!

The game comes in a nice square box and contains 7 Wonder boards, 7 Wonder cards, 148 Age I-III cards, 2 “2-player” cards, 46 Conflict (war) tokens, 70 coins, 1 score book and of course also the rules of the game. Almost all components are made from sturdy cardboard .

I am also quite a fan of the theme of 7 Wonders: the mysterious Antiquity of the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Egyptians. That setting also elegantly ties in with the strategic game mechanism where the players build civilizations, trade and wage war.

Board game 7 Wonders – Setup

The 7 Wonders setup is quick and easy :

Place 3 stacks of Age cardson the table (1 stack per Age). The number of cards per stack depends on the number of players.
Shuffle the 7 Wonder cardsand randomly deal one to each player. Each Wonder card contains one of the Seven Wonders of the World and an A or B side. The Wonder card you draw determines which Wonder board and which side of the Wonder board you play with.
Give each player 3 coins of value “1”. The other coins form the bank.
The Conflict tokens(important in military conflicts) are placed next to the bank as a supply.

That’s it!

Board game 7 Wonders – Game sequence

7 Wonders is a strategic card development game for 3 to 7 players (with a 2-player variant) and lasts an average of 30-45 minutes. The game was created by Antoine Bauza and published by ‘ Repos Production ‘.

The aim of the game is to earn as many profit points as possible by expanding your ancient metropolis – preferably with a world wonder.

7 Wonders is played in 3 eras . There are therefore 3 stacks of Age cards. At the start of each Age, each player receives 7 random Age cards from the corresponding stack.

Each era lasts 6 rounds . During each round:

the players first choose 1 cardat the same time (they place it face down in front of them),
then they perform one card actionat the same time ,
and finally they pass the remainder of their handto the player left or right (the direction of play changes each era).

Players can perform 3 actions during each round with their chosen card:

build a resource or building
build part of their miracle
discard the card for 3 coins

Some cards give you immediate benefits (eg resources, cheaper trade), others only later in the game (eg discounts, free upgrades, military superiority and victory points). For example, in the beginning of the game you will often collect resources to be able to make buildings later.

Each wonder of the world has three parts or phases that you can complete. Each phase gives you an advantage and / or profit points.

Each era ends after round 6. This is followed by a series of military conflicts between all players and their neighbors. In addition, the player with the largest army of conflict tokens wins with victory points, the loser loses victory points. And so it always goes for epoch I, II and III.

When the military conflicts after Age III are over , the game ends . Each player counts his victory points and the player with the most points wins the game! There are 7 ways to earn points:

Through military conflicts. (Beat your neighbors to get victory points!)
By making a lot of money. (3 money = 1 victory point.)
By building a miracle.
By building cultural civil buildings. (They almost always earn you profit points.)
By building scientific buildings. (Scientific cards have symbols. If you collect 3 different or more identical symbols you get extra points!)
By building commercial buildings.
Via guilds. (Guilds are special cards that can give you many bonus profit points depending on the resources and buildings in your city and those of your neighbors.)

In the event of a tie, the player with the most money wins.

Board game 7 Wonders – Game experience

What makes 7 Wonders so much fun for me is the variety . There are many different ways to win – trade, culture, science, miracles, war, etc. – and not one way is sure to lead to victory.

Because of the variety of cards and choices you can make, no game is the same! Moreover, there are now many interesting extensions on the market for even more gaming fun. Hurray!

At the beginning of the game you have to collect enough resources to make it easier to build in later phases, but … you also have to stop collecting resources in time and start building effectively or you will fall behind! Balance is important!

Do you have enough raw materials? Then you will have to choose a strategy . Are you committed to cultural buildings, trade or scientific progress? Don’t you forget to build your miracle? Depending on the cards in your hand, you will often have to switch tactically flexibly to win. After all, you don’t always get the cards you want or need: time for a plan B!

While you play, it is also important to pay attention to your immediate (!) Neighbors . The other players have little direct influence on your gaming experience. (Is that a downside?) Which cards do you NOT want to pass on to your neighbor? Do your neighbors have a larger army and do you need to catch up? Which guilds do your neighbors build to score many points in Age III?

All cards go round and you can only choose one at a time. Choosing is therefore often a bit of a loss. Make the right choice! If you don’t choose a card that you really want (eg because there are several interesting options) you may never see it again. As I said before: balance is important!

You can and should keep an eye on your neighbors, but just because there are so many ways to earn points, it remains exciting until the score ! And that scoring can sometimes lead to a surprising winner.

Some players may be disappointed by this lack of overview and the healthy chaos during the game (players perform their actions simultaneously), I myself do not mind this.

The game is fun with 3 players, but in this case, the more souls, the more joy! If you play with several players, the game sometimes takes fifteen minutes longer – especially if there is an “analyst” or slow decision maker – but don’t worry: it remains a very smooth and light game. After all, everyone plays at the same time, remember ? That reduces the playing and waiting time!

Board game 7 Wonders – Accessibility

7 Wonders is not difficult to learn and play , for young and old, for inexperienced and experienced players. The first game can be a bit overwhelming due to the many options and symbols, but after that you are immediately gone!

It’s a family game, but seasoned players will enjoy it too. In fact, 7 Wonders is one of those rare games that can bring newbies and experienced players together around the table and provide everyone with enough fun !

The rules of the game are clearly explained with the necessary examples and also contain a handy overview page with a brief overview of the rules, symbols by era (luckily!), Guilds and Wonder effects.

Board game 7 Wonders – Conclusion

7 Wonders is an accessible strategic card development game for 3 to 7 players (with a 2-player variant) and lasts an average of 30-45 minutes. In 7 Wonders you lead 1 of the 7 great cities of Antiquity to eternal fame.

The game is nicely designed , plays smoothly and offers a lot of variation , regardless of the number of fellow players. Every game is different thanks to the many options and choices you can make. Tactically flexible switching is therefore a must ! Until the exciting unexpected end.

A true classic! Not too heavy for board game nights with friends and family, not too light for more experienced players. The game even manages to get both types of players, experienced and inexperienced, around one table for a smooth dose of antique fun !