Tower of Babel

Hans im Glück, 999 Games, Rio Grande Games · Board game · 2005
7.0 Ludopedia 6.6 BGG 3–5 · best 4 45 min Weight 2.3/5
Buy · from US$ 19.95
7.0 rating Ludopedia
6.6 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Tower of Babel is an auction and card collection game with a collaborative building twist. If you enjoy games that keep everyone engaged, even off their turn, and don't mind a bit of tense interaction, this might be a good fit!

Highlights
  • Constant player interaction
  • Clever auction mechanic
  • Well-integrated theme
  • Fast and dynamic
Keep in mind
  • Can have little action on your turn
  • Relies on good offers
  • Theme can feel generic
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Hey everyone! Ready for a trip back in time to build some epic stuff? In Tower of Babel, we team up to erect the wonders of the ancient world. But here's the catch: we build together, but everyone wants to be the 'master builder' of each wonder, you know? The trick is we use cards for this, and while one player is taking their turn, the others can offer cards to them. If the offer is good, the one who offered gets some points and, who knows, maybe even a scoring disk. It's a game that never stops, something's always happening!

The goal is to rack up the most points, and there are three ways to do it: collecting scoring disks in four different types (like set collection), offering cards that are worthwhile to the player whose turn it is, and of course, helping to build the wonders. But be careful not to let another player get all the credit! The game ends when someone takes the last disk of any one of the types, so players have some control over the end of the game. It's a race against time and against other players to see who builds more and better. And the best part? It lasts less than an hour, perfect for fitting into any game night! Oh, and there's a variant that removes some action cards that are said to unbalance the game. If you want a purer experience, just leave them in the box.

Best player count

BGG community vote

3–5 players
3 BEST
4 REC
5 REC

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Ancient: Babylon Ancient: Mesopotamia Constructions: The Tower of Babel
Publisher Hans im Glück, 999 Games, Rio Grande Games
Designer Reiner Knizia
Artist Franz Vohwinkel

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

2,940owners
350wishlist
103want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many wonders can we build?
You can build up to seven wonders in total. The game has a subtitle explaining why the eighth was never built!
Is the game cooperative or competitive?
It's a game with elements of both! You build together, but you compete to have the most influence on each wonder and collect more points.
How do I score points?
You score points in three ways: collecting sets of scoring disks, making good card offers to other players, and contributing to the construction of the wonders.
What happens when a player takes the last disk of a type?
That's the trigger for the end of the game! As soon as one type of disk runs out, the game ends and points are tallied.
Is it too complex for beginners?
With a weight of 2.32/5, it's considered moderately complex. The basic rules are easy to grasp, but the strategies can be deeper.
What is the 'Reiner Knizia Variant'?
It's a suggestion to remove some action cards that came with the game, as some feel they unbalance the experience. If you prefer, just leave them out!

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