Historia
- Players
- 1-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.1 / 5
- Year
- 2014
About the game
Historia takes 1-6 players on a sweeping journey through 12,000 years of human history, from humanity's first sparks to the dawn of a technological singularity. Using a hand of action cards that form a discard queue and cycle back over time, players guide their civilization through technological development, exploration, trade, and war. Wonders can be built to elevate a civilization above its rivals, attracting tourists and followers, while conflicts are resolved in a low-disruption way that keeps focus on long-term growth. With roughly 25 minutes of play per player, a full game can run long, and it includes a solo variant played against AI bots. It's a civilization game built for players who enjoy tracking their empire's arc across the ages.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team sees Historia as a rewarding but demanding pick: the historical sweep and action-retrieval engine offer a lot of depth, but the complexity and playtime make it a commitment. It shines with a table of experienced euro-gamers who enjoy planning several turns ahead and watching a civilization take shape slowly. The theme comes through nicely in the wonders and technology progression, giving weight to strategic choices. Newer or more casual groups may find the length and downtime between turns challenging.
What we like
- Sweeping 12,000-year civilization arc gives a strong sense of historical progression.
- Action-retrieval discard queue creates an interesting long-term resource loop.
- Scales from solo play with AI bots up to six players.
- Area-majority wonder-building rewards deliberate strategic expansion.
- High replayability from varied paths to victory.
Keep in mind
- Playtime scales heavily with player count and can run quite long.
- High complexity may overwhelm players new to euro-style games.
- Data suggests noticeable downtime between turns.
- Significant rules overhead compared to lighter civilization games.
Who it's for
Best suited to experienced strategy gamers aged 12+ who enjoy long, cerebral civilization-building games and don't mind a hefty time commitment.
