2014Carl Chudyk, Chris Cieslik
- Videos
- 50
- Creators
- 43
2 - 4 players5 - 30 minLight weight

2010Carl Chudyk
Mostly reviews and how-to-play. Innovation is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 30 reviews, 17 how-to-play guides, 9 recorded sessions, 1 unboxings, and 5 other videos.
From BoardGameGeek
Innovation is Carl Chudyk's tableau-builder of infinite possibilities, taking you on a journey from pre-history all the way to the present...and the near future! In this game, you build a civilization using only cards; there's no map, no tokens, no dice, no pieces. The game's 105 innovations - or in the fourth edition, 115 innovations - are each represented by a card with a unique effect, organized into ten (or eleven) ages. Each innovation's effect is tied thematically to its identity, allowing you to either elevate your society or attack your opponents. In addition to directly affecting your opponents, you can share in the effects of their technologies if you amass enough visible icons on your board. Strategically building your tableau of cards to share often and defend against demands is crucial to success. To win, you must claim achievements, which you can attain by amassing points or by meeting certain criteria with the innovations you have built. No two games of Innovation play the same way. [Admin note: The specific card effects have changed across the four editions of Innovation, in addition to age 11 being added in the fourth edition, but the core gameplay has remained consistent across all editions, so all editions are listed on a single page in the database.]
Innovation has 62 videos from 51 creators: 30 reviews, 17 how-to-play guides, 9 playthroughs, 1 unboxing and 5 other videos. They date from 2010 to April 2026.
To learn the rules, start with "How to Play the Game of Innovation" by Larry Schneider, which runs 14 min. For a quicker teach, "How To Play Innovation" by Tabletop Gaming Guild runs 7 min.
For an opinion before you buy, start with "Innovation Review - with Tom Vasel" by The Dice Tower. 28 creators have reviewed it. To see it played, watch "Dad v Daughter Play Throughs - Innovation" by Dad vs Daughter, one of 9 playthroughs.
If you like it, try Red7, Mottainai, Panda Spin and Innovation Ultimate, also by Carl Chudyk. It appears in convention videos from Gen Con 2015, Spiel Essen 2011 and Gen Con 2010.
8 of 51
2014Carl Chudyk, Chris Cieslik
2 - 4 players5 - 30 minLight weight
2015Carl Chudyk
2 - 5 players15 - 30 minHeavy weight
2025Carl Chudyk
2 - 5 players30 - 60 minHeavy weight
From BoardGameGeek:
Innovation is Carl Chudyk's tableau-builder of infinite possibilities, taking you on a journey from pre-history all the way to the present...and the near future! In this game, you build a civilization using only cards; there's no map, no tokens, no dice, no pieces. The game's 105 innovations - or in the fourth edition, 115 innovations - are each represented by a card with a unique effect, organized into ten (or eleven) ages. Each innovation's effect is tied thematically to its identity, allowing you to either elevate your society or attack your opponents. In addition to directly affecting your opponents, you can share in the effects of their technologies if you amass enough visible icons on your board. Strategically building your tableau of cards to share often and defend against demands is crucial to success. To win, you must claim achievements, which you can attain by amassing points or by meeting certain criteria with the innovations you have built. No two games of Innovation play the same way. [Admin note: The specific card effects have changed across the four editions of Innovation, in addition to age 11 being added in the fourth edition, but the core gameplay has remained consistent across all editions, so all editions are listed on a single page in the database.]
Designer
Carl Chudyk
Artists
Alanna Cervenak, Carl Chudyk, Cara Judd, Robin Olausson, Anders Olausson, Robert Simmons, Christophe Swal, Cyril Van Der Haegen
Publisher
Asmadi Games
Categories
Mechanics