Rise of Empires
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 150 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
Rise of Empires is a civilization-building game where two to five players guide their people from the dawn of history to the modern age, balancing war, economics, science, and diplomacy. Spanning three eras of two turns each, players build cities, control territory, research technology, and trade goods to accumulate victory points, with the ever-present risk of being wiped from the map only to rebuild elsewhere. Designed by Martin Wallace, it moves briskly for a civilization game, often wrapping up in under three hours. Its abstracted tile-based approach keeps the historical sweep readable without excessive bookkeeping.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team likes Rise of Empires as a relatively fast-playing civilization game compared to its genre peers, thanks to Martin Wallace's efficient action-display structure. The mirrored A/B turn design within each era creates an interesting rhythm where early decisions echo later in unexpected ways. It retains the "rise and fall" drama classic civ games are known for, without demanding a full evening to finish. A solid choice for players who love civ-building but want a shorter session.
What we like
- Relatively fast-playing for a civilization game.
- Interesting mirrored turn structure across each era.
- Designed by respected veteran designer Martin Wallace.
- Good balance of war, economy, science, and trade.
Keep in mind
- Still a fairly long and complex game for newcomers.
- High downtime between turns can slow the pace.
- Abstract tile representation may feel dry thematically.
Who it's for
Good for ages 12+ strategy gamers who enjoy civilization-building games, in groups of 2-5.
