Gameplay

Mega Empires is designed for ultimate flexibility in player count. Play with a small group of only 3 players using a single game, or combine games to accommodate up to 18 players. Or any number in between.

The key concepts are: Area Control, Trading, Set collection, Variable Player Powers, Diplomacy, Rise and Fall, and long term strategy.

Scope

The game length ranges from 4 to 12 hours. The key driver of this is the number of players and whether or not the Short Game scenario is played. Decide in advance whether you want a quick evening session with 3 friends or an all-day epic with 9 or more players!

 

– The Small Game: Playing with only 3-4 players? One box (The West* or The East) and 4-7 hours of playing time is all you need.

– The Standard Game: For 5-9 players, still one box (The West or The East) is sufficient, but the playing time increases to 6-12 hours, adding more depth to the game.

– The Mega Game: With more than 9 players you can combine The West and The East for an even bigger experience up to 18 players. Count on 10-12 hours of playing time.

* The Upgrade & 3-4 players pack is required when playing The West with fewer than 5 players. in The East the required components are included by default. Either box supports up to 9 players.

How the Game Works

Unlike many turn-based games, Mega Empires is played largely simultaneously, making it highly scalable. After a few quick setup rounds, the game unfolds over 12 main turns of 45-60 minutes each, during which all players play the various turn-phases at the same time.

The game turns include the following phases:

– Expanding your population and moving them on the board. Aim to strategically claim territory and use this area control to secure space for building cities. The more cities you build, the more trade cards you receive.

– Trade to increase resource value, but beware – calamities can strike and decimate your population or cities. This cycle of setbacks and recovery is part of the challenge, and your ability to bounce back and grow stronger is crucial in this game.

– Use trade cards to purchase one or more out of a total of 51 historical civilization advances, each shaping your civilization in a unique way. With this many options there are many different strategic paths that can be chosen, so no two games are ever the same.

– At the end of each round, players check a historical timeline to see if they meet the requirements to advance through the ages. The most successful civilizations will eventually progress into the Late Iron Age, ultimately reaching the game’s conclusion.

Winning the Game

The winner is the player with the most victory points, earned through developments, timeline progress, and cities built. More often than not, this is the player who first reaches the end of the timeline.

Want to Learn More?

Watch the JonGetsGames video for a perfect explanation of the game!