The best civilization games 2024

Looking for a really good civilization board game? Then we have just the thing: our list of the best civilization games 2024.

What are civilization games?

In civilization games, players often develop and manage a nation or society of people. The goal of each player is usually to engage the citizens in a way that is beneficial to the society, and to advance them throughout the game so that their civilization gains superiority over others.

In civilization games, each player can build their society independently, or each player can benefit or suffer from the actions of others through warfare and diplomacy.

List of best civilization games 2024

This list was last updated on August 20, 2024. We compared 669 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. 7 Wonders Duel

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders Duel and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 9.

    More details for 7 Wonders Duel
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for 7 Wonders Duel

    • YouTube Review for the game "7 Wonders Duel" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  2. 7 Wonders

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders and similar games

    In 7 Wonders, you step into the role of a leader of one of the seven great cities of the Ancient World. Your objective is to gather resources, establish commercial routes, and assert your military might. The game is not just about managing resources but also about building an architectural wonder that will stand the test of time.

    Nominated for 33 awards and won 19.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2011

    More details for 7 Wonders
    • 2 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  3. 7 Wonders (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game 7 Wonders (Second Edition) and similar games

    7 Wonders (Second Edition) is an acclaimed board game known for its widespread recognition and numerous international awards. This new version rejuvenates the classic 7 Wonders game, maintaining its status as a cornerstone in the world of modern board gaming. The game is celebrated for its elegant drafting mechanics, allowing up to 7 players to participate simultaneously without downtime.

    More details for 7 Wonders (Second Edition)
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  4. It's a Wonderful World

    All details for the board game It's a Wonderful World and similar games

    It's a Wonderful World is a strategic card drafting and engine-building game, where players take on the role of leaders of expanding empires. The game is designed for 1 to 5 players and offers a compelling blend of careful planning and resource management.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 5.

    More details for It's a Wonderful World
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  5. Hadara

    All details for the board game Hadara and similar games

    Hadara is a strategic board game that takes players on a journey through the evolution of civilizations. Over the course of three epochs, players transform their small settlements into flourishing high cultures, populating their world with diverse individuals from various cultures, continents, and eras. The goal is to skillfully choose people and achievements to bring glory and honor, while balancing the development of agriculture, culture, and military power to outshine competitors.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Hadara
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Hadara

    • YouTube Review for the game "Hadara" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy and similar games

    Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy is an enhanced version of the original Eclipse game, first released in 2011. It's a grand strategy game set in the depths of space, where players lead their own interstellar civilizations to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 2.

    More details for Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 - 200 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  7. Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age

    All details for the board game Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age and similar games

    Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age is a captivating dice game that immerses players in the task of building and advancing their civilizations. This game combines elements of luck, strategy, and resource management, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy civilization-building themes.

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2010

    More details for Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Race for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Race for the Galaxy and similar games

    Race for the Galaxy is a captivating card game that immerses players in the challenge of building galactic civilizations. In this race through the cosmos, players use game cards to represent worlds, technologies, and developments as they strive for supremacy. Let's delve into the gameplay and discover what makes Race for the Galaxy unique.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 4.

    More details for Race for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  9. Roll for the Galaxy

    All details for the board game Roll for the Galaxy and similar games

    Roll for the Galaxy is a dice-based strategy game for 2-5 players, where dice represent the populace tasked with building a space empire. It's a dice adaptation of the popular card game Race for the Galaxy.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    🔥 Deal: 10% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Roll for the Galaxy
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Beyond the Sun

    All details for the board game Beyond the Sun and similar games

    Beyond the Sun is a strategic board game that places players at the forefront of humanity's technological advancement into the Spacefaring Era. Here, players shape the progress of human civilization in space while competing to become the dominant faction through scientific development, economic growth, and galactic influence.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 1.

    More details for Beyond the Sun
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  11. Atlantis Rising (Second Edition)

    All details for the board game Atlantis Rising (Second Edition) and similar games

    Atlantis Rising (Second Edition) is a beautifully reimagined version of the beloved cooperative worker placement game where players unite to save the mythical island of Atlantis from inevitable doom. As leaders of Atlantis, players collaborate to gather resources, manage the workforce, and construct a cosmic gate capable of saving the Atlantean populace from the rising tides. The game challenges players with a blend of strategic planning, resource management, and a pressing urgency to complete the gate before the island succumbs to the ocean.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Atlantis Rising (Second Edition)
    • 1 - 7 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Tides of Time

    All details for the board game Tides of Time and similar games

    Imagine a world where ancient civilizations rise and fall as epochs pass. In Tides of Time, two players embark on a strategic journey through time, where they take on the roles of cunning rulers guiding their civilizations to glory. The game unfolds over three rounds, during which players must carefully draft cards from their hands to construct magnificent kingdoms, all while striving to meet specific scoring objectives. As the ages progress, the choices made by each ruler will determine the course of history. Here's a closer look at the gameplay and special features:

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Tides of Time
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 20 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Cyclades

    All details for the board game Cyclades and similar games

    In this latest collaboration between Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, players must buy the favor of the gods in their race to be the first player to build two cities in the Ancient Greek island group known as the Cyclades.

    Nominated for 7 awards.

    More details for Cyclades
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Cyclades

    • YouTube Review for the game "Cyclades" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  14. Revive

    All details for the board game Revive and similar games

    Revive is a post-apocalyptic strategy game set 5000 years after civilization's collapse. Players lead tribes to explore a frozen Earth, harness resources, recruit survivors, build factories, and relearn ancient technologies. Designed for 1-4 players, Revive stands out with its asymmetric player powers, highly variable setup, and a focus on strategy and rebuilding over conflict.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.

    More details for Revive
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  15. Nations: The Dice Game

    All details for the board game Nations: The Dice Game and similar games

    Nations: The Dice Game is a fast-paced, dice-driven game that captures the essence of civilization-building. Designed for 1-4 players, it condenses the expansive experience of the original Nations board game into a more streamlined and quicker format, ideal for players looking for a shorter playtime without sacrificing strategic depth.

    More details for Nations: The Dice Game
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Nations: The Dice Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Nations: The Dice Game" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  16. Eight-Minute Empire: Legends

    All details for the board game Eight-Minute Empire: Legends and similar games

    Eight-Minute Empire: Legends is a standalone sequel to Eight-Minute Empire, offering a quick and engaging area control game set in a fantastical land of legends. This sequel introduces several new elements that enhance gameplay and provide a fresh experience, even for those familiar with the original game. The game is designed for swift play, maintaining its eight-minute playtime for those who play briskly.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Eight-Minute Empire: Legends
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 8 - 20 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  17. Era: Medieval Age

    All details for the board game Era: Medieval Age and similar games

    Era: Medieval Age positions itself as a groundbreaking evolution in the realm of roll-and-build board games, inheriting the legacy of Roll Through The Ages but carving out its own niche with a unique build mechanic. Players are transported to the medieval era, tasked with rolling dice to assemble a flourishing city using tangible, 3D components such as walls, keeps, and farms, making each cityscape a distinct creation by the game's conclusion.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Era: Medieval Age
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  18. Underwater Cities

    All details for the board game Underwater Cities and similar games

    Underwater Cities is a strategy board game where players become the world's brightest minds, tasked with creating the most livable underwater habitats. The game is notable for its card placement mechanism and offers a richly strategic experience that scales in duration with the number of players.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Underwater Cities
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 80 - 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Underwater Cities

    • YouTube Review for the game "Underwater Cities" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire

    All details for the board game The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire and similar games

    The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire is a standalone board game set in the same universe as The Manhattan Project. Players take on the role of nations in the post-war atomic age, striving for power through industrial, commercial, and governmental advancement. The game uniquely combines worker placement, tableau-building, and resource management mechanics, while emphasizing the environmental impact of industrialization.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  20. Catan: Big Box

    All details for the board game Catan: Big Box and similar games
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Imperial Settlers

    All details for the board game Imperial Settlers and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 11 awards and won 3.

    More details for Imperial Settlers
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Imperial Settlers

    • YouTube Review for the game "Imperial Settlers" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Imperial Settlers" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Imperial Settlers" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  22. Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    All details for the board game Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition and similar games

    Embark on an epic journey of galactic conquest in Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition. As a leader of one of seventeen unique factions, you'll navigate the vastness of space, striving for dominance through military might, political maneuvering, and economic prowess. The game unfolds around Mecatol Rex, the central planet, where the throne of the galaxy awaits the faction that can skillfully navigate the challenges of a dynamic and strategically constructed universe.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 240 - 480 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  23. Imperial Miners

    All details for the board game Imperial Miners and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  24. Rise of Tribes

    All details for the board game Rise of Tribes and similar games

    Rise of Tribes takes players back to a prehistoric era where leading a tribal faction to prosperity is the ultimate goal. Through a modular hex board representing various terrains, players strive to grow their tribe, move across lands, gather resources, and lead their people to victory. The game stands out with its dice-driven mechanism that influences the strength of each action, coupled with strategic decisions on where to place tribe members to either promote growth or avoid conflict.

    More details for Rise of Tribes
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Rise of Tribes

    • YouTube Review for the game "Rise of Tribes" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  25. Tapestry

    All details for the board game Tapestry and similar games

    Tapestry is a strategic board game designed by Jamey Stegmaier, intended for 1-5 players and lasting about two hours. The game invites players to weave the narrative of a civilization's journey from the dawn of humankind into the future, creating a unique and storied history that diverges from real-world events.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 3.

    More details for Tapestry
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  26. Catan: Big Box

    All details for the board game Catan: Big Box and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  27. Innovation

    All details for the board game Innovation and similar games

    Innovation is a dynamic card game that captures the essence of civilization building. Designed by Carl Chudyk, it offers players a unique experience of guiding a civilization's journey from the stone age to modern times.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Innovation
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  28. Imperial Settlers: Empires of the North

    All details for the board game Imperial Settlers: Empires of the North and similar games

    Imperial Settlers: Empires of the North is a fresh, standalone card game set in the vibrant Imperial Settlers universe. This game takes you to the distant, chilly realms of the north, where you can lead one of three distinct factions: the industrious Scotsmen, the resourceful Inuits, or the seafaring Vikings. Your goal? To guide your chosen faction to become the most prosperous empire in these harsh, yet bountiful lands.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Imperial Settlers: Empires of the North
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. First Empires

    All details for the board game First Empires and similar games
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  30. Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition

    All details for the board game Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition and similar games

    Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition revitalizes a beloved strategy game with an expansive collection that includes the original Clash of Cultures base game along with the Civilizations and Aztecs expansions. This comprehensive edition invites players on an epic journey through history, where each decision shapes the destiny of their civilization from humble beginnings to glorious zenith.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 180 - 240 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

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