The best games set in ancient Rome 2024

Concordia is a peaceful yet strategic board game set in Roman times, focusing on economic development and expansion. It is designed for 2-5 players aged 13 and up.

Concordia Venus is a standalone reimplementation of the classic Concordia, enhancing the peaceful strategy game set in Roman times. It's designed for 2-6 players aged 13 and up, focusing on economic development without the randomness of dice or cards. Strategy and planning are key as players expand their influence across various Roman cities.

The Downfall of Pompeii is a thematic and tactical board game that transports players to the ancient city of Pompeii, just before and during its catastrophic destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The game combines strategic planning with an element of luck, as players attempt to save as many of their pieces as possible from the disaster.

Commands & Colors: Ancients is a historical wargame that spans a vast period from the Dawn of Military History to the onset of the Dark Ages. This game, part of the acclaimed Commands & Colors system, offers players a unique opportunity to reenact famous battles with a focus on historical accuracy and strategic depth, all while maintaining streamlined gameplay.

Pandemic: Fall of Rome is a unique cooperative board game that blends the classic gameplay of Pandemic with the historical setting of the Roman Empire's decline. In this game, players work together as citizens, soldiers, and allies of Rome, tasked with defending the empire against various barbarian tribes like the Anglo-Saxons, Goths, Vandals, and Huns. The game requires players to strategically recruit armies, fortify cities, and forge alliances to halt the onslaught of invaders.

Ave Caesar is a race game set in ancient Rome, where players maneuver chariots around the Circus Maximus using cards. The track design includes challenging elements like bottlenecks and lane restrictions, reminiscent of modern racing games like Detroit-Cleveland Grand Prix and Daytona 500. Players must complete three laps and make a strategic stop to 'Hail Caesar' before crossing the finish line. The game balances light strategy with the need for careful planning, especially when navigating corners.

In Carpe Diem, players step into the roles of wealthy patricians in ancient Rome, striving to build prosperous city districts and accumulate prestigious points. Designed by the accomplished game designer Stefan Feld, this board game offers a unique and engaging gaming experience.

Rise of Augustus (also known simply as Augustus) is a tactical board game where players take on the role of powerful leaders during the era of Augustus Caesar, competing to complete various objectives for power and victory points. The game combines elements of strategic planning and luck, with a unique mechanism involving the drawing of symbols and the placement of legionnaire meeples.

Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery is a board game that captures the intrigue, strategies, and violent conflicts depicted in the STARZ Original series. Players take on the roles of Dominus, heads of powerful houses in ancient Rome, vying for influence and power in the city of Capua. The game is known for its blend of political maneuvering, economic strategy, and gladiatorial combat.

Glory to Rome transports players back to 64 A.D., where they take on the role of architects and planners aiding Emperor Nero in rebuilding Rome after the great fire. This card-based game combines city building with resource management in a historically themed setting.

Imperial Settlers is a dynamic card game where players lead one of four distinct factions - Romans, Barbarians, Egyptians, and Japanese - to build and expand their empires. It's a game of strategy and resource management, set in a newly discovered land ripe for exploration and conflict.

Roma is a strategic card and dice game set in ancient Rome, amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and power struggles. Players must cleverly use a variety of powerful cards, like the Tower and Praetorian Guard for defense or the Consul and Tribune for more subtle maneuvers, to gain the upper hand. The game is uniquely driven by a combination of card placement and dice rolling. Cards are placed at stations numbered 1-6, and players use dice rolled each turn to activate these stations and utilize the card effects for tactical advantage. These effects can manipulate gameplay, generate money, or grant victory points. The game ends when all victory points in play have been claimed, and the player with the most victory points emerges victorious. Additionally, Roma can be combined with its sequel, Arena: Roma II, for varied gameplay experiences.

Alea Iacta Est presents a fascinating blend of dice placement and strategic decision-making, set against the backdrop of Ancient Rome. Players vie for prestige and power in the guise of Caesars, using their dice as resources to gain advantages across various influential buildings.

Colosseum casts each player in the role of a Roman impresario during the grand era of the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the Colosseum. Tasked with producing spectacular events to attract the most spectators, players must skillfully manage resources, enhance their arenas, and enlist top performers to earn wealth, glory, and the coveted title of Grand Impresario.

Mare Nostrum: Empires invites you into the ancient world, where you take the helm of a legendary empire surrounding the Mediterranean, dubbed "our sea" by the Romans. Your mission is to expand your empire's reach, trading far and wide, building markets, cities, and temples, and recruiting heroes to enhance your empire's glory. With options to play with 3-5 players, or up to 6 with the 'Atlas' expansion, strategy and foresight are key.

Trajan is a sophisticated board game set in ancient Rome, where players aim to expand their influence across various aspects of Roman society. Renowned for its unique central mechanism and strategic depth, the game is a creation of acclaimed designer Stefan Feld.

In Caesar & Cleopatra, a two-player card game, participants step into the roles of these iconic historical figures, with Caesar advocating for Rome's invasion of Egypt and Cleopatra fighting for its independence. The core of the game revolves around influencing Roman officials - Aedils, Quaestors, Senators, Pretorians, and Censors - using agent cards numbered 1 to 5. Players must strategically decide whether to play these agents face-down for secrecy or face-up for greater influence. Additionally, action cards like Assassins and Scouts add layers of strategy, allowing players to remove opposing agents or reveal hidden ones. The game progresses by revealing votes from the Roman officials, with the player having the most influence winning their support. The game concludes once all officials have chosen sides, with victory going to the player who has garnered the most support, factoring in bonus points for majorities in specific groups and certain hidden objectives.

Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage is a gripping, asymmetrical card-driven strategy game for two players, delving into the historical conflict between the Roman Republic and Carthage during approximately 200 BC. The game was masterfully designed by Mark Simonitch, renowned for his skill in creating engaging and historically rich board games.