# Eminent Domain

Eminent Domain is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 45 minutes and is meant for ages 10 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 6.5 out of 10 by 27 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $57.39 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 45 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 10+
- **Complexity:** 2.5 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2011
- **Categories:** Civilization, Space Exploration, Card Game, Science Fiction
- **Mechanics:** Delayed Purchase, Tags, Income, Hand Management, Variable Phase Order, Layering, Open Drafting, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Follow, Market
- **Ludoya rating:** 6.5 out of 10, from 27 reviews
- **Owned by:** 63 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 154
- **Unique players:** 122

**Designers:** Seth Jaffee

**Artists:** Patrick McEvoy, James Wolf Strehle, Eric J. Carter, Ryan Johnson, Hans-Georg Schneider, Gavan Brown, Jeremy Deveraturda, Christine Conrad

**Publishers:** Tasty Minstrel Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Snafu Store | 34.95 € | https://snafustore.com/product/eminent-domain/ |

## Expansions

- [Eminent Domain: Escalation](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-escalation)
- [Eminent Domain: Exotica](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-exotica)
- [Eminent Domain: Bonus Planets](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-bonus-planets)
- [Eminent Domain: Oblivion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-oblivion)
- [Eminent Domain: Escalation Bonus Pack](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-escalation-bonus-pack)
- [Eminent Domain: Base Game Scenarios Promo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-base-game-scenarios-promo)
- [Eminent Domain: Elusive/Exclusive Victory Promo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-elusiveexclusive-victory-promo)
- [Eminent Domain: Cygnus Planet Promo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain-cygnus-planet-promo)

## Similar games

- [Race for the Galaxy](https://www.ludoya.com/games/race-for-the-galaxy)
- [Innovation Ultimate](https://www.ludoya.com/games/innovation-ultimate)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition)
- [Roll for the Galaxy](https://www.ludoya.com/games/roll-for-the-galaxy)
- [Innovation](https://www.ludoya.com/games/innovation)
- [Tiny Epic Galaxies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tiny-epic-galaxies)
- [Star Realms](https://www.ludoya.com/games/star-realms)
- [Innovation Deluxe](https://www.ludoya.com/games/innovation-deluxe)
- [Ancient Knowledge](https://www.ludoya.com/games/ancient-knowledge)
- [Astro Knights](https://www.ludoya.com/games/astro-knights)
- [Moon Colony Bloodbath](https://www.ludoya.com/games/moon-colony-bloodbath)
- [Aeon's End](https://www.ludoya.com/games/aeons-end)

## Rules questions

### On my turn, can I both play a card and return cards from my discard to my hand, or is it one or the other?

The turn sequence is draw → play → return: you draw, then you may play a card and resolve its action, and then you may return any number of cards from your discard to your hand (played cards typically go to your discard unless stated otherwise). (p. 1)

### Do I have to take a card from the supply, or can I draw the top card of the deck instead?

You normally draw a card from the supply and then the supply is refilled from the deck, but if you don't like the supply you may instead draw the top card from the deck. (p. 1)

### Where do action cards go after I play them — do they stay in play or go to the discard pile?

Played cards typically go to your discard pile unless the card explicitly says it remains in play; some cards do provide ongoing effects while they remain in play. (pp. 1–2)

### If the deck runs out during the round, does the game end immediately or do we finish the round?

When the deck is exhausted you continue play without refilling the supply until the end of the round, and the game ends after the player who started that round finishes their turn. (p. 1)

### How is the winner determined and what happens in a tie?

Players total influence from colonies, technology cards, and spoils; the highest total wins, and in case of a tie the player who played second wins. (p. 1)

### When are spoils placed on a planet and how do they work?

Some cards show a spoils icon; when the defending card is defeated you place the spoils token on the planet, and those spoils provide additional benefits when scored or claimed. (p. 2)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/eminent-domain)
- [Eminent Domain in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/eminent-domain)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/68425)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._