2021 · Wargame

Mega Empires: The East

Players guide an early civilization across a large map spanning Northeast Africa to Southwest Asia, starting in the Stone Age and advancing toward the Late Iron Age. Gameplay centers on expanding population and cities, moving units overland to claim territory, resolving occasional border conflicts, and collecting trade cards from cities. Trade is a social, simultaneous phase where players exchange commodity cards—some of which are hidden calamities—and then resolve any negative effects. Wealth from trade is spent to purchase civilization advances from five categories (Arts, Crafts, Science, Civics, Religion). Advances grant abilities, discounts toward later advances and shape strategic paths; the most powerful advances require long-term planning. Victory points come from population, cities, advances and surviving calamities; games are lengthy and scale to many players.

groupPlayers

3–9 best 6

schedulePlaying time

180–780 min

cakeAge

12+

psychologyComplexity

2.9 / 5