It's a Wonderful World
- Players
- 1-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.3 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
It's a Wonderful World is a card-drafting engine-building game where players lead an expanding Empire, choosing which drafted cards to recycle for immediate resources and which to construct for long-term production and victory points. The clever twist is that production happens in a fixed resource order, so timing your construction choices carefully is essential to avoid shortages. Supporting solo play up to five players, it offers a satisfying blend of drafting tension and engine optimization in a manageable 45 minutes. Optional campaign expansions add narrative depth for groups who want an ongoing story.
Hobbli's Notes
It's a Wonderful World layers a smart production-order twist onto the familiar card-drafting engine-builder formula, forcing players to think several steps ahead about resource chains. It's quick to teach relative to its strategic depth, and the option for solo or up to five players makes it flexible for varied group sizes. Some players might find the drafting-then-building structure similar to other engine-building card games, but the specific resource-timing puzzle sets it apart.
What we like
- Clever fixed production order adds a unique planning challenge.
- Supports solo play as well as up to five players.
- Reasonably quick 45-minute playtime for its strategic depth.
- Optional campaign mode adds narrative replayability.
- Strong art direction and thematic empire-building feel.
Keep in mind
- Can feel similar to other card-drafting engine builders without its distinct twist standing out immediately.
- Simultaneous drafting can create some analysis paralysis.
- Card variety may feel limited without expansions.
Who it's for
Well suited to strategy gamers ages 14 and up who enjoy card drafting and engine-building, playing solo or with up to five players.
