Civilization

Civilization

1980Francis Tresham

Videos
35
Creators
3

Mostly playthroughs. Civilization is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 6 reviews, 3 how-to-play guides, 23 recorded sessions, and 2 unboxings.

2 - 7 players
360 min
3.6/5 weight

From BoardGameGeek

Civilization is a game of skill for 2 to 7 players. It covers the development of ancient civilizations from the invention of agriculture c. 8000 B.C. to the emergence of Rome around the middle of the third century B.C. Each player leads a nation of peoples over a map board of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East as they attempt to carve a niche for themselves and their culture. Although battles and territorial strategy are important, this is not a war game because it is not won by battle or conquest. Instead, the object of play is to gain a level of overall advancement involving cultural, economic, and political factors so that such conflicts that do arise are a result of rivalry and land shortage rather than a desire to eliminate other players. Nomad and farmer, warrior and merchant, artisan and citizen all have an essential part to play in the development of civilization. It is the player who most effectively changes emphasis between these various outlooks who will achieve the best balance and win. (from the Introduction to the Avalon Hill edition rulebook) This game has a huge following and is widely regarded as one of the best games about ancient civilizations. Each player takes on the role of leader of an ancient civilization, such as the Illyrians or Babylonians. Your task is to guide your people through the ages by expanding your empire and using its proceeds to finance new technological advances, such as Literacy, Metalworking, or Law. The advancements help your civilization better cope with its problems as well as help bring new advancements. Civilization is widely thought to be the first game ever to incorporate a "technology tree," allowing players to gain certain items and abilities only after particular other items were obtained. This influential mechanism has been adopted by countless other board games, card games, and computer games.

Watch first

All videos

2 of 3

Creators who cover this

BoardGameGeek
BoardGameGeek
1 video of this game
fenirob
fenirob
1 video of this game

Games like this

1986Bruce Shelley, Francis Tresham

Videos
51
Creators
27
Mostly playthroughs and reviews

2 - 7 players180 - 360 min4.2 weight

2015Flo de Haan, John Rodriguez, Francis Tresham

Videos
1
Creators
1
Playthroughs

5 - 18 players360 - 720 min3.7 weight

2019Flo de Haan, Gerart de Haan, John Rodriguez, Francis Tresham

Videos
1
Creators
1
Reviews

5 - 9 players180 - 780 min3.3 weight

2021Mathias Wigge

Videos
436
Creators
289
Mainly reviews

1 - 4 players90 - 150 min3.8 weight

About Civilization

From BoardGameGeek:

Civilization is a game of skill for 2 to 7 players. It covers the development of ancient civilizations from the invention of agriculture c. 8000 B.C. to the emergence of Rome around the middle of the third century B.C. Each player leads a nation of peoples over a map board of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East as they attempt to carve a niche for themselves and their culture. Although battles and territorial strategy are important, this is not a war game because it is not won by battle or conquest. Instead, the object of play is to gain a level of overall advancement involving cultural, economic, and political factors so that such conflicts that do arise are a result of rivalry and land shortage rather than a desire to eliminate other players. Nomad and farmer, warrior and merchant, artisan and citizen all have an essential part to play in the development of civilization. It is the player who most effectively changes emphasis between these various outlooks who will achieve the best balance and win. (from the Introduction to the Avalon Hill edition rulebook) This game has a huge following and is widely regarded as one of the best games about ancient civilizations. Each player takes on the role of leader of an ancient civilization, such as the Illyrians or Babylonians. Your task is to guide your people through the ages by expanding your empire and using its proceeds to finance new technological advances, such as Literacy, Metalworking, or Law. The advancements help your civilization better cope with its problems as well as help bring new advancements. Civilization is widely thought to be the first game ever to incorporate a "technology tree," allowing players to gain certain items and abilities only after particular other items were obtained. This influential mechanism has been adopted by countless other board games, card games, and computer games.

Designer

Francis Tresham

Artists

Ed Dovey, Charles Kibler, Rodger B. MacGowan, Guillaume Rohmer, Dale Sheaffer, Francis Tresham

Categories

AncientCivilizationEconomicNegotiation

Mechanics

Area Majority / InfluenceArea MovementAutomatic Resource GrowthCatch the Leader
View on BoardGameGeek ›