card games like 7 wonders
Image via Z Man Games

10 Great Board Games to Play if You Like 7 Wonders

Build a new kingdom with these fantastic tabletop titles

The satisfying civilization building, exciting card drafting, and strategic resource management of 7 Wonders has won the classic board game many fans. Though it’s always a solid choice for game night, you might be ready to try a new tabletop title instead. Below you’ll find our picks for the best board games like 7 Wonders. Each entry on this list has a few similarities 🌳in terms of either mechanics or theme, but offers a novel experience൩ that you and your group will surely enjoy.

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1. Civilization: A New Dawn

civilization a new dawn board game
Image via Fantasy Flight Games

If you enjoy the theme of 7 Wonders but want to try a tabletop title that offers several different gameplay mechanics, then might be the perfect addition to your gaming shelf. A New Dawn is an adaption of the Sid Meier’s Civilization video game series that takes the source material’s best elements and distills them into a rich and engaging two hour exp💟erience. Players take on the role of a great leader and lead their empire to wealth and conquest. You’ll start with humble resource gathering in the early stages of the game, but by the end you’ll be developing new technologies and constructing world wonders.

2. Sushi Go Party

drafting card game
Image via Gamewright

If you like the card drafting system from 7 Wonders, then you’ll love the core gameplay mechanics of , a quirky card game with fun artwork and a light but enjoyable theme. Rather than building a whole new civilization, you’ll simply be putting together the best Japanese meal imaginable by combinin꧑g different types of sushi, dumplings, and sashimi. Collect sets to activate bonuses and score points, and horde the most delicious desserts so your opponents can’t claim them.

3. Race for the Galaxy

engine builder board game
Image via Rio Grande Games

takes the civilization-building genre of board games into deep space. Instead of conquering territories on a map, you’ll be discovering entire new worlds. The game’s cen📖tral distinguishing feature is its action-taking mechanic. At the beginning of every round, each player gets to select a single action phase that everyone c🎉an utilize, such as producing goods, playing a development card, or trading. However, since everyone can only pick one of these phases, a few action types will be missing each round. You’ll need to plan appropriately to avoid these limitations, and instead leverage them as a means of slowing down your opponents.

4. Bunny Kingdom

area control board game
Image via Iello Games

Expand your fief and gain glory for the amount of spaces and different resources you control in , a simple yet exciting area control board game with a drafting mechanic that’s somewhat similar to 7 Wonders. The theme is amusing, the rules 🅷are easy to learn, and the artwork is goofy and fun. If you’re looking for a new family-friendly bꦰoard game that everyone can enjoy, this one’s a great pick.

5. Between Two Cities

between two cities essential edition
Image via Stonemaier Games

If you’d like a more cooperative board game experience that still has some thematic similarities to 7 Wonders, you’ll likely enjoy . Just like in 7 Wonders, players only interact with the people seated to their immediate right an🌠d left. This time, you’ll have to set up a unique arrangement of sixteen buildings with each of these players, and only the city under your ﷽control that scores the fewest points will count at the end game. The game leaves room for tons of fun table talk, and offers a lot of replay value.

6. Paper Tales

paper tales card game
Image via Stronghold Games Store on Amazon

is an easy-to-learn tableau construction card game with simple yet exciting gameplay. The game takes place in four stages, with a drafting system that changes directions each round. You can recruit characters that gather resources and fight for you in battle, or piece together a collection of buildings to showcase your power and unlock interesting effects. Paper Tales also features a unique aging system, ♍which requires you to plan s👍trategically, since the characters you’ve played won’t be sticking around indefinitely.

7. Underwater Cities

drafting and engine building board game
Image via Rio Grande Games

In , your goal is to make life on the sea floor not only possible, but also resource efficient. Over the course of approximately two and a half hours, you’ll have to build farms, research centers, tunnels, and domed cities to accomplish this goal. Color-matching card placement is essential to gaining the upper hand, because it gives you the action advantage you need for accelerating your ꦗengine. Your turns start off slow, but escalates quickly, which can be im🦄mensely satisfying.

8. Dominion

dominion card game
Image via Rio Grande Games

The exceptional kingdom and deck building card game is a game night classic with a ton of exciting expansions. Your goal is to collect the most victory points. However, these points are typically associated with cards that don’t do anyওthing for you during the game, besides slowing down your engine. To bolster your deck, you’ll need to add treasures and actions that let you draw and purchase multiple cards in the same turn. Cursing your opponents with attacks will slow 𝓡them down, and give you just enough time to claim the last province.

9. It’s a Wonderful World

card drafting games
Image via Lucky Duck Games Store on Amazon

is a relatively short engine building card game that takes place in a dystopian future full of resource exploitation and giant metal cities. There’s a drafting setup that mirrors 7 Wonders and forces you to watch your opponent’s moves carefully. To build an efficient tableau, you’ll need to think carefully about which cards you want to keep and which ones you should recycle for scrap in༒stead. There’s a solo mode, but in my experience, the game works best with four to five ꦡplayers.

10. Citadels (Revised Edition)

board games with card drafting
Image via Z Man Games

is a classic card game that’s all about designing a thriving city with your building cards. However, it’s not so simple as saving up your coins and invest♈ing exclusively in taverns. At the beginning of every round, the players will receive a new role with unique powers. The bishop saves your districts from ruination, while the warlord lets you tear down your opponent’s structures. The thief lets you take a few coins from your fellow players, and the merchant gives you more buying power. And if you’re the architect, you can put together🐭 the bricks in your city faster than everyone else.


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Colin Fritz
Contributing Writer- Colin has been a long-time gamer ever since receiving a Wii for Christmas in 2007. He's been writing professionally since 2021 and enjoys all things tabletop gaming, including everything from The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game to Terraforming Mars.