The Best Board Games Set in the City of Rome 2026

7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

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.

The once-flourishing Roman Empire has fallen. Players can claim lands, choosing between vineyards, quarries, olive groves, and oil mills. Trade land and outsmart opponents while building a prosperous domain from Rome's properties.

Gorus Maximus is a bloody trick-taking game of gladiatorial combat where the trump suit can change in the middle of a trick. Players send their strongest gladiators and wildest beasts into battle to win the crowd's favor, matching the rank of the last played gladiator to instantly switch the trump suit.

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.

Players take on the role of public restroom owners in ancient Rome, working to earn money from Romans with urgent needs. They can rent out three types of toilets to women, senators, and citizens, each with specific time requirements and payment. The winner is the player who accumulates a certain wealth, determined by the number of players. The game includes 70 Roman customer cards, 40 action cards, Roman coins, and wooden round tokens.

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.

Romans Go Home! is a fast-paced and humorous card game where players represent Caledonian clans competing to conquer the greatest and most valuable Roman forts along Hadrian's Wall. The game is played over three rounds, with each player programming their warrior cards in advance to win fort cards that have unique effects. Strategic foresight is key, as players must anticipate their opponents' decisions to succeed.

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.

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.

Being a Roman latrine owner is not easy. Customers can be picky, with senators demanding more money but refusing to sit next to slaves, while women prefer to use facilities together. Those who manage their queues effectively and send unwanted customers to their opponents will win and become the richest Roman!