7 Wonders
Choose 7 Wonders when the table is four or more and you want everyone busy at the same time. Two is legal and often the least loved way to play it.
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Board games
7 Wonders vs 7 Wonders Duel
The names make people buy the wrong box. The player count is the decision.
7 Wonders, designed by Antoine Bauza and published in 2010, plays 2–7 and often about 30 minutes. Everyone drafts a hand at the same time. It won the 2011 Kennerspiel des Jahres. 7 Wonders Duel, by Antoine Bauza and Bruno Cathala, published in 2015, is a different game for exactly two players, about 30 minutes. You draft from a layout, and you can win on military, science, or points.
If you are three or more, Duel is not an option. If you are two, the original 7 Wonders can be played, and many pairs still prefer Duel because it was built for them. Do not teach the big game to a pair out of brand loyalty.
7 Wonders Duel
Choose Duel when it is two of you and you want a game that can end before the points if someone takes the military or the science. It is not an expansion. It is its own box.
What actually differs
| Difference | 7 Wonders | 7 Wonders Duel |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2–7 | Exactly 2 |
| Length | About 30 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Designers | Antoine Bauza, 2010 | Bauza and Cathala, 2015 |
| Award | Kennerspiel des Jahres 2011 | A standalone two-player game |
| How a turn works | Everyone drafts at once | One shared display |
Questions about this choice
Can we play Duel with three if one person teams up?
You can house-rule anything. The game is not built for it. For three, play the original, or play something else.
Which should I buy first?
Buy for the number of people you actually have this month. A two-player household does not need the seven-player box first.