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.

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.

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.

Players take on the role of members of Julius Caesar's entourage, tasked with expanding the borders of his empire by building roads. The objective is to connect Rome with new cities across the world, gaining points each time a road is built or a new city is reached. The game ends when all cities on the board have been connected, and the player with the most points wins after tallying their city and treasure tiles.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two players control the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey during the Roman civil wars (49-45 BC). As they vie for control of Rome, players engage in a card-driven block game to move, seize territories, or play events on a Mediterranean map featuring 13 victory point cities. Take charge of veteran legions or train new ones and strategize your path to becoming the emperor of Rome.

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.

Roll like in ancient Rome and try to form the highest possible Roman numerals from your results. However, be cautious; rolling for the highest value may not result in a valid numeral. Players have six action cards to help change outcomes, but they must strategically decide when to use them, as unused cards grant bonus points at the end of the game. The game ends when a player fills their score sheet column with seven numbers, and the player with the most points wins.

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.

The uprising in Rome is far from over! Players strategically play their cards to discover who the most powerful ruler is. Strengthen your position with powerful cards or accumulate victory points by skillfully deploying your characters and buildings. Arena can be played as a standalone game or combined with Roma for even more options, including mixing all cards from both games or allowing each player to create their own decks from the combined set.

Two thousand years ago, life continued at the edges of the Roman Empire as expected. However, beyond the border, barbarians lurked, forcing players to cultivate grain, fish, chop wood, and maintain watchtowers to guard against fires and barbarian attacks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Players command Julius Caesar and his legions in the conquest of Gaul from 58-52 BC. One player leads the Romans, while the other controls the Gauls and allied tribes. Each player has a unique set of campaign cards that generate recruits, movement abilities, combat bonuses, and historical events. Combat is resolved using a quasi-tactical method, with distinct advantages for each side, emphasizing the importance of command in battle.

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.

The game is set during the late Republican period of Rome, where players lead factions competing for power in the Senate. Players increase their wealth by buying resources, selling them to the state, and using the profits to recruit more senators. The game features various bidding mechanisms, including open auctions, blind bids, and innovative blind bidding for budget deficits, all while competing for control as conflict escalates.

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!

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.

The Via Appia, the most famous road of the Roman Empire, is under construction. Players take on the role of builders tasked with linking Rome and Brindisi by quarrying stones and laying down the road. Those who construct the most valuable sections and reach various cities early will emerge victorious as the most renowned master builder in all of Rome.

A portable war game that fits in your pocket! When time and space are limited, this game offers a perfect solution for combat on the go. Players assemble their armies from troop tiles, determining the battle size and strategy.