7 Wonders Review
7 Wonders Review
Ancient civilizations had a rich mythology and advanced technology to achieve feats that have been unimaginable for millennia since then. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, players will race to complete their miracles and bring glory and eternal glory to their city!
A brief overview of the 7 wonders
7 Wonders is best described as a card game and management building engine elements. The game is divided into three ages (circles), each with its own deck of cards.
There are two versions of 7 Wonders, the original edition released in 2010 and the revised edition released in 2020. The new edition brings balance changes, redesign the artwork and eliminates 2-player mode. In this review, I will focus exclusively on the 2nd edition, as I have not yet played the original.
The goal of the game is to collect the most winning points, which can be achieved by building your miracle, raising military power, civilian structures, scientific research, etc. Throughout the game, you will engage with players on your side, whether through trade, combat, or sabotage.
The game can be played by 3 to 7 players , but you can get the best experience with 4 or 5 fun . With just a 30-minute playing time, 7 Wonders can be played multiple times or as a filler while the group gathers for a longer game. It’s not a complicated game, but it’s enjoyable for all types of players, making it the perfect family game .
Unpacking 7 wonders
The box contains the following components:
- 1 Rules
- 3 Reference sheets for effects
- 1 Card reference sheet
- 7 Wonder Boards
- 49 Age Cards I
- 49 Age II cards
- 50 cards for age III
- 78 Coins
- 24 chips to lose
- 24 victory chips
- 1 Point block
There is no game board in 7 Wonders - instead each player receives a magic board. The boards may be too big, but the quality of the design deserves to be shown on a larger piece of cardboard. On one side it is beautiful during the day and on the other the view at night, which is a really nice touch.
O cards have a very clean layout with an artistic style that takes up most of the space. There are only a few card symbols that actually dominate the gameplay and are clearly visible without hindering the artwork, and allow the cards to be folded to make the playing surface more compact.
The policy has a very clean design and is one of the better organized policies I have seen. Reference sheets will come in handy to remind players how the mechanics work and save you the hassle of flipping through the policy.
Coins and battle tokens are the last component and fit the darkness well. In addition to the slippery back of the card, which makes them harder to fold than solitaire, I am very pleased with the quality of the components, especially the artwork.
How to play 7 Wonders
7 Wonders is a very accessible game and can be learned in 10 minutes. After the first few games, you will understand very well the pace and what the game expects from you. In this section, I will give you a brief explanation of how to play.
Game setup
Sort the three deck age cards according to the number of players. Each card has a number in the corner that tells you the minimum number of players needed to join. The number of purple guild cards is equal to the number of players plus two cards.
Players are given 3 coins each, randomly select magic boards and choose whether to play on the day or night side separately. You can also share miracles in any way and create your own distribution rules.
Round breakdown
7 Wonders are played in three rounds or “ages” as they are called in the game. During the game you will have to pay attention to your neighbors - the players directly on your left and right.
The cards you play provide you with specific resources. As you progress through the centuries, higher level cards will be available, but you must meet the purchase requirements.
When turning
At the beginning of each round, players are dealt 7 cards each to play in 6 turns. However, you will not be able to play all the cards from your hand, as the turns take place as follows:
- Pick the cards out of your hand and place it face down on the table.
- Players perform an action with their chosen card at the same time .
- The remaining cards are dealt to the left or right, depending on the round.
The three actions you can take are:
- Build a building on a card.
- Use the card to create your miracle.
- I'm selling a coin card.
The point of the game is to build a strong economy by making as many cards as possible. Some cards can be played for free, while others require you to pay in coins or materials.
Once you build the building, the resources shown on the card are available to you until the end of the game. An example would be: first you play at a woodworking site that has no cost. You now have Wood Production 1 and can play on treasure cards for free.
If you do not have the required resource, you can choose to pay the neighboring player 2 coins and obtain a one-time use of his production card. Finally, your wonder gives you a specific production of resources, which is shown in the upper left corner.
Building miracles
The magic board has three slots at the bottom and you need to assemble them in order. To do this, develop the economy to meet resource needs, or pay neighboring players to get them. You will use the card you put on the table to cover the construction phase and move on to the next one.
Military conflicts
Each period ends with a military confrontation between neighboring players. Military power is gained just like getting resources with red cards. You will gain tokens of victory or defeat depending on who has more military symbols. These chips will count as winning points at the end of the game.
Scoring
Scoring in 7 Wonders is based on 4 Types of cards, advancement of the magic board, remaining coins and military tokens - a total of 7 scoring points. The player with the most points is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most coins wins.
Your first game 7 Wonders
In 7 Wonders you will quickly learn that neighbor sabotage is an important part of the game. If the turns take place in a clockwise direction, you can build a miracle stage or sell a card that a neighbor on your left may need. The player on your right tends to do the same with you.
Don’t think too much about what your options are - by the time any of these decks come back to you, they will be greatly reduced. Instead, focus on basic and advanced resource production so you can afford to progress in your miracle and buy more expensive cards later.
I can’t share too much about beginner tips, but I don’t have to either. As soon as you finish your first game, you will already have a good idea of what is expected of you. The following games will show you where you are missing the Strategy , so you can adjust and improve.
Advantages disadvantages
Advantages:
- great Gateway board game
- Interesting mechanics
- Beautiful Artwork
There is a lot of debate about whether 7 Wonders is the best introductory board game , but when I introduced my wife to the hobby through the 7 Wonders Duel, I can definitely say it is.
You don’t have to sit people down for an hour to explain the game to new players just to forget most of what you said, nor do they have to play for more than 3 hours and lose interest halfway through.
With 7 Wonders, you only need 5-10 minutes to explain the basic concepts, and you can start playing. A 30-minute session and intuitive mechanics make it easy for new players to adjust. When they think they’ve “saved” the game, you can simply move on to something more complicated.
Weaknesses:
- Lack of depth
- Poor scalability
What makes 7 Wonders great is also its biggest weakness. However, you can’t really criticize a game that has succeeded in setting a goal. 7 Wonders is not a complicated game, neither strategically nor mechanically, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are looking for a game with great depth and complexity, this is not for you.
The real problem that even new players will quickly notice is that the experience is not the same when you play with three, four to five or more players. Playing with six or seven players isn’t that good, but it’s still better to have them than to exclude people from playing.
Variations and extensions
Three of the four extensions for the original 7 Wonders have been updated to fit the 2nd edition. Babel is the only one not yet released, along with possible new releases.
7 Wonders: Armada (second edition)
The seas offer great trade routes and riches, but they are always faced by different factions. Participate in a naval battle with other players or play Groups to suppress the opposite Armado - this expansion can match others or play independently.
- Fast playing games. The game lasts 40 minutes from start to finish.
- Added naval combat. This gives players more ways to score ...
- New components. The extension adds boats and another game board ...
7 Wonders: Places (second edition)
Mercenaries, thieves, spies and diplomats - these are Machiavellian tools available to you to influence other players. Cities focuses more on player interactivity and adds the ability to play the game in teams. It is standalone and compatible with other extensions.
- 2 to 8 players
- 40 minutes of play
- What is your strategy for winning? 7 Wonders - Places is ...
7 Wonders: Leaders (Second Edition)
The Leaders extension introduces a new mechanic with leader cards. These historical numbers provide certain benefits that will impact your strategy. Leaders is a standalone extension, but can be combined with others.
- This is an extension to 7 Wonders, not a standalone game
- For 2-7 players
- Adds depth and complexity
7 Wonders: Babel (first edition)
- Strong repeat value
- The game contains 2 extensions - play them separately or together
- Nice graphics
Other versions
For the perfect 2 player version of this game, check out 7 Wonders: Duel !
- STRATEGIC GAME: Experience an intense battle for two players for ...
- TAKE YOUR CIVILIZATION: Decide to invest in science, ...
- CIVILIZATION IS BORN FROM EVOLUTION: one match 7 Wonders Duel ...
Overview of 7 Wonders (TL; DR)
7 Wonders is one of the best family and introductory board games. It may not be for everyone, especially not for a group of experienced players, but if you play with a group of all ages and skill levels, it will provide a pleasant experience for everyone.
Conclusion: a verdict?
I played the 7 Wonders Duel dozens if not hundreds of times, so I knew what I was getting into with 7 Wonders.
The main thing in this game is to understand what it is and who the party is for. An experienced board game player will notice a lack of depth, trivial production chains, and salad scoring.
However, new players and casual players will really appreciate what 7 Wonders has to offer.
I introduced a group of friends to board games that transcend the boundaries of Carcassonne and Codename , and while we had fun Terraforming Mars , playing after work was tiring even for me.
7 Wonders offered us something different - a few sessions per night and some extra if we want to announce the winner of the night. You could sit down, have a drink , play a game or two, and then take a break and get back to it in an hour.
For me, the game itself wasn’t that exciting, but the overall atmosphere behind the table was fun. Instead of waiting for people to figure out what to do next, the course of the game was quick and fun.
I highly recommend 7 Wonders as your first board game or something that allows kids and friends to play in a more relaxed environment.
- For 3 to 7 players
- 30 minute playing time
- Great strategy game
We hope you enjoyed our review of 7 Wonders! Have you tried playing 7 Wonders or any of its extensions ? We would love to hear your opinion on this award-winning board game. Drop a comment below!
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