The best games from Mac Gerdts 🇩🇪👨 2026

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 2026.

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 21 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 designer out of a total of 708 designers in our database.

More information about Gerdts

More information about Gerdts can be found on:

List of best games by Mac Gerdts 2026

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 2026:

This list was last updated on June 9, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. 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

    • YouTube Review for the game "Concordia" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  2. Antike II

    • CivilizationCivilization
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Ancient WorldAncient World
    • CombatCombat
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    +4 more

    A 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.

    More details for Antike II
    • 👥 3 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  3. Looking for a really good game that uses the Gerdts action rondel 🏵? Then we have just the thing: the list of the best Gerdts rondel games 2026.

    The best games with the Gerdts Action Rondel 🏵 →
  4. 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.

    🔥 Deal: 21% cheaper on Amazon than at other retailers — at a recent low!

    More details for Imperial
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
  5. Crossing Oceans

    Crossing 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.

    More details for Crossing Oceans
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  6. 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
  7. Antike Duellum

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • 2-Player2-Player
    • CivilizationCivilization
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Ancient WorldAncient World
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    +3 more

    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
  8. 7 Empires

    • MilitaryMilitary
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • NegotiationNegotiation
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Large GroupsLarge Groups
    +4 more
    • 👥 2 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 150 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  9. Hamburgum

    • Golden Geek (nominated)Golden Geek (nominated)
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • City BuildingCity Building
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    +6 more

    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
  10. Transatlantic

    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • NauticalNautical
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Modular BoardModular Board
    +2 more

    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.

    More details for Transatlantic
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  11. In this 2026 top list we've picked out the best dice, card & board games from the game publisher "PD-Verlag".

    The best games from PD-Verlag 🇩🇪🏢 →
  12. The Princes of Machu Picchu

    • CivilizationCivilization
    • Area ControlArea Control
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    • Strategy GameStrategy Game
    • Set CollectionSet Collection
    +2 more

    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
  13. Looking for a really good game where you can invest in objects? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best investment games 2026.

    The best games where you can invest in objects →

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