How to Play

7 Wonders

2-7 players 30-30 min 7.7 Board Game Geek Rating

Lead an ancient civilization through three historical ages in this card-drafting game. Players simultaneously select cards from hands passed between neighbors, building cities and wonders. Cards provide resources, military strength, or victory points with immediate or future benefits. Strategic drafting considers what opponents receive while developing your civilization across multiple categories to achieve the highest score.

Published 2010

7 Wonders

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Distribute wonder boards
Each player receives a unique wonder board representing their ancient city
2
Note starting resource
Each wonder board generates one resource shown at top left, usable throughout the game
3
Receive starting coins
Players begin with coins from the bank (amount per standard rules)
4
Prepare Age decks
Separate cards into Age I, Age II, and Age III decks based on card backs
5
Add guild cards
Shuffle purple guild cards into the Age III deck only
6
Deal starting hands
Deal 7 cards to each player from the current Age deck
7
Position players
Arrange seating so each player has exactly two neighbors (left and right)

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Choose a card secretly
Select one card from your hand to play this turn
2
Reveal simultaneously
All players reveal their chosen cards at the same time
3
Execute one of three actions
You must perform exactly one action with your chosen card:
4
Pass remaining cards
Give your remaining hand to your neighbor
5
Resolve military conflicts
At the end of each Age, compare military strength (shields) with each neighbor separately
6
Use resources once per turn
Each resource item you own can only fuel one of your purchases per turn
7
Sell to multiple buyers
Your resources may be purchased by both neighbors in the same turn
8
Buy neighbor resources
Pay 2 coins to use one resource from a neighbor's brown, grey, or wonder board
9
Resources persist
Once built, resource structures provide their benefit every turn forever
10
Brown/Grey cards (Resources)
Place underlapping from top left of wonder board, provide raw and manufactured goods
11
Blue cards (Civilian)
Generate victory points shown in laurel wreaths
12
Red cards (Military)
Add shield symbols for military conflict resolution
13
Green cards (Science)
Display one of three scientific symbols for end-game scoring
14
Yellow cards (Commercial)
Provide coins, trading discounts, or resources depending on Age
15
Purple cards (Guilds)
Award victory points based on specific conditions involving neighbors

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
End the game
Complete the third Age and resolve final military conflicts
2
Calculate military score
Sum all victory and defeat tokens from the three military conflicts
3
Score treasury
Receive 1 victory point for every 3 coins remaining
4
Score wonders
Add victory points from all constructed wonder stages
5
Score civilian structures
Total victory points from all blue cards
6
Score commercial buildings
Add victory points from qualifying yellow cards
7
Score guilds
Calculate victory points from purple cards based on their specific conditions
8
Score science
Calculate scientific symbol points using both methods:
9
Determine winner
The player with the most total victory points wins the game

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

7 Wonders ¿Cómo se juega? - Tutorial Punto de partida

7 Wonders ¿Cómo se juega? - Tutorial Punto de partida

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

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