# Mega Civilization

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2015
- **BGG Rating**: 8.1
- **BGG Rank**: #1791
- **Players**: 5-18 (Best with: 9)
- **Duration**: 360-720 min
- **Weight**: 3.71 / 5
- **Designers**: Flo de Haan, Francis Tresham, John Rodriguez
- **Artists**: Franz Vohwinkel
- **Publishers**: 999 Games, Pegasus Spiele
- **Categories**: Ancient, Bluffing, City Building, Civilization, Economic, Mythology, Nautical, Negotiation, Pirates, Political, Prehistoric, Territory Building
- **Mechanics**: Area Movement, Hand Management, Hot Potato, Memory, Negotiation, Set Collection, Take That, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Trading

## Verdict
If you love massive civilization games and deep negotiation, Mega Civilization will hook you from the first round.Epic scaleIntense tradingRich tech treeSocial experienceLong playtimeSteep learning curveNeeds huge tableRECOMMENDED

## Description
Mega Civilization is a strategic behemoth for 5‑18 players that guides your empire from the Stone Age to the Late Iron Age. Each player starts with a single population token and, each round, expands their people, occupies territories, builds cities and draws trade cards. Cities generate resources but can also bring calamities that shrink population or even destroy a city. The core of the game is the trading phase: everyone secretly trades commodities and calamities, trying to assemble valuable sets while avoiding bad cards. After trading, the wealth earned can be spent to acquire 51 civilization advances split into Arts, Crafts, Science, Civics and Religion, each providing discounts and special abilities. Advances like Metal Working aid in conflicts, Architecture eases city building, and Enlightenment mitigates calamities. The ultimate goal is to score the most victory points through cities, advances and, if lucky, the Wonder of the World. Playtime ranges from 10‑12 hours, but there are “First Game” (1‑2 h) and “Short Game” (6‑8 h) scenarios for smaller groups or impatient players. Despite the epic scale – the map stretches over 2 m wide – the rules are straightforward, allowing even a five‑player game to feel grand. Expansions add miniatures, Silk Road routes, pirate ships and zodiac events, further expanding the experience. In short, Mega Civilization is less about war and more about negotiation, trade and cultural development, ideal for large groups that enjoy a session that feels like a historical campaign rather than a typical board game.

## FAQ
### How long does a full game take?
Typically 10‑12 hours, though short scenarios bring it down to 6‑8 hours or even 1‑2 hours for beginners.

### What is the ideal player count?
The game shines with large groups (10‑18), but it works fine with as few as 5 players.

### Do I need a huge table?
Yes, the standard map is over 2 m wide, so a large table or a dedicated gaming space is recommended.

### How complex is the game?
Medium‑high: core rules are easy, but managing population, trade and advances demands strategic planning.

### What components are included?
Continental map, population tokens, trade cards, advance tiles, city miniatures and various markers.

### Can I play with fewer than 5 players?
Not in the base rules, but the Upgrade & 3‑4 Players expansion enables play with 3‑4 people.

### Are any expansions required?
None are required, but the Silk Road and Special Buildings expansions add a lot of replay value.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 911.38 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=647457&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 999.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=491544&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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