7 Wonders

Today's game review is of the 2010 release, 7 Wonders.  For 3-7 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview
You rule an ancient city and want to see it prosper.  So you'll 'grow your realm' (play cards) to build up your resources, markets, science, and military.  You can also construct your wonder, heightening your prestige.  The person with the most points at the end wins!

Each player starts with a 'wonder board'- a board with one of the seven wonders of the ancient world on it.  The board grants one resource and benefits for each stage (there are 3) you complete of your wonder.  You'll place cards around the wonder during the the three ages of the game- resources, markets, and other things.  If you lack resources, you can pay your neighbor for what they possess.  And don't forget to invest in your military, as there is a conflict at the end of each age.

game components; image from here

Simplified Gameplay
7 Wonders is played over three ages, each with six turns.  In each age, you start with a hand of 7 cards (three piles of cards will be used- one for each age).  On your turn, pick one card and pass the remaining hand to an adjacent player.  Everyone simultaneously plays their card in one of three ways:

1. Build the structure on the card (place it face-up around your board, paying for it if required)
2. Build a stage of your wonder (place it face-down partially under the board)
3. Discard it (face-down) for 3 coins

Then pick up the hand passed to you, repeating the above until the end of the age.  A military conflict happens at the end of each age, with points awarded (or deducted) based on your military strength relative to the adjacent players.

example of game in progress; image from here

At the end of three ages, points are calculated based on each aspect of your city (military, treasury, wonder, civilian structures, commercial structures, guilds, science structures).  The most points wins!  Here is the official rules summary.

Review
It takes a game or two to get the hang of this one.  It's a good game- one of the staples- and I like several things about this civilization builder: games are quick, there are pleasing amounts of decisions, variety, and strategies, and it can handle up to 7 players.  You really have to balance yourself with this one- investing too much (or little) in resources early on can hurt you in the late game.  I withhold a 'great' rating because it gets busy, with so many things to track, which can be overwhelming.  Still, check this out sometime.

Rating: A-