7 Wonders

Every player takes charge of one of the seven great cities of the ancient world and builds it across three ages. The whole table plays at the same time: you pick one card from the hand in front of you, pass the rest to your neighbour, and pick again from the hand that arrives. Nobody sits waiting for a turn, so a seven player game finishes in about the same time as a three player one. Cards buy raw materials, put up civic buildings, fund science, raise armies, or add a stage to your wonder. Resources you do not own can be bought from the player sitting next to you, which is why your two neighbours matter far more than the rest of the table. At the end of each age the military strength on your board is compared with theirs and points move accordingly. Scoring rewards a plan rather than a spree. Blue civic cards pay flat points, green science multiplies as you collect matching symbols, and yellow commerce pays off late. It is the natural next step for a group that has worn out its gateway games, and it still teaches in about five minutes.