The New Era
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.5 / 5
- Year
- 2011
About the game
The New Era is a standalone expansion for 51st State, set in the same post-apocalyptic Neuroshima universe, adding over 80 new cards and a fifth playable faction: the violent Hegemony. It introduces new rules for direct interaction, letting players invade rivals and sign deals with opponents' locations, on top of the existing card-drafting, worker-placement, and location-building systems. Factions each play with distinctive strategies, and the game can be combined with base 51st State or played entirely on its own. Production values are notably high, with wooden components and improved iconography over the original release. It's an aggressive, engagement-heavy design from Portal Games' celebrated Neuroshima series.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team considers The New Era a satisfying evolution of 51st State: the added invasion and diplomacy options give players a lot more to fight over than the original's economic focus. It's a demanding game that rewards players who already understand card-driven engine-building, so it's not the easiest on-ramp for total newcomers. The Hegemony faction in particular brings a sharper, more aggressive playstyle to the table. Fans of the base game will find plenty of reasons to add this into their rotation.
What we like
- Deep card-driven economic engine with satisfying long-term building.
- Five distinct asymmetric factions, including the new aggressive Hegemony.
- New invasion and diplomacy rules add meaningful player interaction.
- Can be combined with base 51st State for even more variety.
- Strong post-apocalyptic theme with high production values.
Keep in mind
- High complexity and long playtime don't suit casual groups.
- Significant rules overhead to learn all faction abilities.
- Some noticeable downtime during other players' turns.
- Best experienced with players already familiar with the 51st State system.
Who it's for
Best for experienced strategy gamers aged 12+ who enjoy card-driven economic engine-building with direct player conflict.
