The best games from Mac Gerdts 🇩🇪👨 2025
Looking for a really good game from game designer Mac Gerdts 👨? Then we have just the thing: the list with the best Mac Gerdts games 2025.
Who is Mac Gerdts anyway?
Mac Gerdts has been designing dice, card & board games since 2005. The game designer is from Hamburg, Germany🇩🇪, was born in 1962 and currently lives in Hamburg, Germany 🇩🇪. His real name is Walther M. Gerdts - "Walther Gerdts" for short.
Mac is married and has one son. He works in the city administration of Hamburg as a consultant for trade fairs and congresses.
Gerdts' first game "Antike" he developed in 2005 at the age of 43 - so he has been designing games for over 20 years of games. Famous Gerdts games include Concordia, Imperial & Navegador.
Inventor of Gerdts' action rondel.
Some of his games introduced the concept of a rondel instead of dice as a mechanism. This is to prevent players from repeatedly performing the same action in rapid succession without paying a "price" for it.
We have created a separate list for you: The best games with the Gerdts action rondel.
How good are "Mac Gerdts" games?
There are 7 games by Mac Gerdts in our Top1000 games list, making Gerdts the #25 best game author out of a total of 708 authors in our database.
More information about Gerdts
More information about Gerdts can be found on:
- Gerdts's BGG profile
- Mac Gerdts's Facebook page
- english Wikipedia entry for Mac Gerdts
- german Wikipedia entry for Gerdts
List of best games by Mac Gerdts 2025
In this list we have listed the best board games that Mac Gerdts either designed himself - or was involved in designing.
Unfortunately, not all of Mac Gerdts's games are currently available. In the following list you can find all dice, board & card games by Mac Gerdts that you can buy 2025:
Concordia
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.
Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.
⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2014
More details for Concordia- 2 - 5 Players
- 100 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Concordia
Concordia Venus
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.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Concordia Venus- 2 - 6 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Video reviews for Concordia Venus
Antike II
More details for Antike IIA challenging strategy game revolves around evolution and competition between ancient civilizations. Cultures establish cities, build temples, navigate the seas, and discover new scientific and technological principles. Players vie to acquire influential figures to lead their nation to victory while defending against enemies who seek to conquer their cities and destroy their temples. This game emphasizes strategy and diplomacy rather than luck, offering a variety of scenarios and gameplay options.
- 3 - 6 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Imperial 2030
Imperial 2030 is a standalone strategy game that builds upon the mechanics of its predecessor, Imperial. Set in the near future, the game sees six global powers (USA, Europe, Russia, China, India, and Brazil) competing for dominance by expanding their industrial bases and military might. Unlike traditional board games where players directly control a nation, in Imperial 2030, players are international investors influencing global politics through their investments in these powers.
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Imperial 2030- 2 - 6 Players
- 120 - 180 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Hard to learn
Video reviews for Imperial 2030
Imperial
Imperial is a strategy board game that plunges players into the heart of European imperialism. Unlike traditional war or area control games, players in Imperial take on the roles of international investors vying for influence over six major imperial nations. The game stands out for its unique approach to strategy, eschewing the randomness of dice and cards, and instead focusing on the players' abilities to manipulate and control the political landscape of Europe.
Nominated for 7 awards.
More details for Imperial- 2 - 6 Players
- 120 - 180 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Hard to learn
Video reviews for Imperial
Crossing Oceans
More details for Crossing OceansCrossing Oceans brings the golden age of ocean liners to life with fifty historical ships. Players build a thriving trading fleet, acquire modern steamships, and take control of valuable ports. The game features a unique rondel system for actions, offering strategic opportunities to expand trade networks and compete for dominance on major shipping routes.
- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Antike
Antike is a compelling strategy game set in the ancient world, where players lead civilizations to glory through expansion, development, and competition. The game offers a rich historical backdrop, featuring ancient nations like the Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and others. Players focus on building cities, temples, and fleets, while also advancing in science and technology. Military might is crucial, as legions and galleys are needed to defend against enemies and establish new settlements. The board is two-sided, offering different scenarios for gameplay. Victory is achieved not through chance but by acquiring a set number of ancient personalities like kings, scholars, and generals, emphasizing strategic planning and diplomacy.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Antike- 2 - 6 Players
- 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Antike Duellum
Antike Duellum is a two-player strategy game that features modified rules from Mac Gerdts' Antike. It includes two scenarios: the Punic Wars (Rome vs. Carthage) and the Persian Wars (Greeks vs. Persians). Players aim to be the first to acquire nine ancient personalities such as kings and generals.
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Antike Duellum- 2 Players
- 75 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Hamburgum
Hamburgum transports players back to 17th century Hamburg, immersing them in the strategic depths of trade and city development during a prosperous yet tumultuous period. As heads of Hamburg families, players navigate a richly thematic and strategic environment, aiming to amass wealth and, more importantly, prestige through diligent production, trade, and church donations.
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Hamburgum- 2 - 5 Players
- 75 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Transatlantic
From the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 to the start of World War I in 1914, steamships underwent remarkable advancements in size, speed, and modernity. Players manage their own shipping companies, transporting cargo, mail, and passengers worldwide, while competing for dominance in the transatlantic trade with various historical steamships. The game relies on card mechanics, where players execute actions to efficiently manage their fleets, and features interactive choices and strategic decisions with minimal luck.
Nominated for 1 award.
🔥 Deal: 26% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!
More details for Transatlantic- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
The Princes of Machu Picchu
When the Spaniards conquered the Inca Empire, only a few princes managed to escape into the mountains. Hidden high above the Urabamba River lies a place that the Spaniards would never discover: the lost city of Machu Picchu. However, caution is needed, as there may be a traitor among the princes ready to reveal the city's location.
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for The Princes of Machu Picchu- 2 - 5 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Medium difficulty
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: