Imperial 2030
- Players
- 2-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 180 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.5 / 5
- Year
- 2009
About the game
Imperial 2030 reimagines Mac Gerdts' classic Imperial with a modern setting, as six world powers - the USA, Europe, Russia, China, India, and Brazil - vie for global economic and military dominance. Uniquely, players don't control nations directly; instead they invest as financiers, gaining control of whichever government they invest most heavily in. Using a rondel system, nations build fleets and armies and battle for neutral territory, all driven by player investment decisions. It's a clever fusion of economic strategy and area control where money, not conquest, is truly the goal.
Hobbli's Notes
Imperial 2030's investor mechanic is what sets it apart from typical area-control wargames - you're never fully attached to one nation, and that constant recalculating of where to put your money is the heart of the strategy. The rondel action-selection system keeps turns tight despite the game's global scope. It's a heavier, longer game that rewards players who enjoy long-term economic planning over direct conflict. Fans of Gerdts' other rondel games will feel right at home.
What we like
- Innovative investor mechanic separates economic control from military action.
- Rondel system streamlines otherwise complex turn choices.
- Global scale and modern setting add fresh flavor to the Imperial system.
- Rewards long-term planning and reading opponents' investments.
Keep in mind
- Long three-hour playtime demands a dedicated group.
- High complexity may be daunting for newer strategy gamers.
- Abstract 'investor' role can feel emotionally distant from the conflict.
Who it's for
Best for ages 14 and up, appealing to serious strategy gamers who enjoy economic and area-control games in groups of 2-6.
