The Republic of Rome
- Players
- 1-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 300 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 4.4 / 5
- Year
- 1990
About the game
The Republic of Rome is a landmark simulation of over 250 years of Roman politics, with players controlling rival senatorial families competing for offices, military commands, and influence. Proposals go before the Senate for a vote, with success determined by the offices and loyal Senators each faction controls, while external threats like wars, famine, and unrest can bring Rome itself crashing down if players don't cooperate enough to survive them. Balancing self-interest against the collective need to keep Rome standing is the heart of the game. A powerful General or Senator can rise to become Emperor and win outright: but sudden death by plague or assassin is always a risk.
Hobbli's Notes
The Republic of Rome is one of the definitive semi-cooperative political simulations, revered for the depth with which it models Roman intrigue. Hobbli's team considers it a landmark design, but it's not for the faint of heart: a full game runs around five hours and demands a group willing to fully commit to negotiation, betrayal, and shared crisis management. This is a bucket-list game for serious history and political-simulation enthusiasts.
What we like
- Unmatched depth in simulating Roman political intrigue.
- Semi-cooperative structure creates constant tension between self-interest and survival.
- Strong solo mode is rare for a game this deep.
- Decades of acclaim as a genre-defining design.
Keep in mind
- Extremely long playtime of around five hours.
- High rules complexity demands significant upfront learning.
- Requires a group fully committed to negotiation and roleplay.
Who it's for
Best for dedicated wargamers and history enthusiasts aged 16+ willing to commit to a five-hour session of deep negotiation and political simulation, in groups up to 6.
