Nations / Similar games

18 games like Nations

The best games like Nations are Through the Ages A New Story of Civilization, City of Iron and The Manhattan Project Energy Empire — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Through the Ages A New Story of Civilization shares card game, civilization, economic with Nations.

Every alternative below links to its own Nations-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s card game / civilization shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Nations’s 3.5 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. Through the Ages A New Story of Civilization (2015)

   2–4 players · 120 min · ★ 8.4 · Heavy · See Through the Ages A New Story of Civilization alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting, Events · 5 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · +0.9 heavier

   Check price for Through the Ages A New Story of Civilization →
2. 

   2. City of Iron (2013)

   2–4 players · 120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 5 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.3 lighter

   Check price for City of Iron →
3. 

   3. The Manhattan Project Energy Empire (2016)

   1–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See The Manhattan Project Energy Empire alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Civilization, Economic, Events, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 1–5 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.5 lighter

   Check price for The Manhattan Project Energy Empire →
4. 

   4. 51st State Master Set (2016)

   1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See 51st State Master Set alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Economic, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~45 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
5. 

   5. Pax Porfiriana (2012)

   1–6 players · 120 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-heavy · See Pax Porfiriana alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Economic, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 1–5 players · scales to 6 · about the same length · same complexity
6. 

   6. 7 Wonders Duel (2015)

   2 players · 30 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-light · See 7 Wonders Duel alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting · 4 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Nations: both play at 2 · ~90 min shorter · 1.3 lighter
7. 

   7. The New Era (2011)

   2–5 players · 60 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Economic, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
8. 

   8. 7 Wonders (Second Edition) (2020)

   3–7 players · 30 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-light

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 5 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 3–5 players · scales to 7 · ~90 min shorter · 1.4 lighter
9. 

   9. Aeon's End War Eternal (2017)

   1–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.4 · Medium · See Aeon's End War Eternal alternatives →

   Shares with Nations: Card Game, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 3 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Nations: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~60 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
10. 

    10. 7 Wonders (2010)

    2–7 players · 30 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See 7 Wonders alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 7 · ~90 min shorter · 1.2 lighter
11. 

    11. The Great Zimbabwe (2012)

    2–5 players · 90–150 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-heavy · See The Great Zimbabwe alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 2–5 players · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
12. 

    12. It's a Wonderful World (2019)

    1–5 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · See It's a Wonderful World alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting · 4 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 1–5 players · ~75 min shorter · 1.2 lighter
13. 

    13. Mare Nostrum Empires (2016)

    3–5 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium · See Mare Nostrum Empires alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Civilization, Economic, Variable Player Powers · 3 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 3–5 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
14. 

    14. Imperial Settlers (2014)

    1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium · See Imperial Settlers alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 4 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~52 min shorter · 0.8 lighter
15. 

    15. Santa Maria (2017)

    1–4 players · 45–90 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium · See Santa Maria alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Civilization, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 3 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~52 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
16. 

    16. Core Worlds (2011)

    2–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · See Core Worlds alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Card Game, Civilization, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
17. 

    17. Three Kingdoms Redux (2014)

    3 players · 135–165 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-heavy

    Shares with Nations: Civilization, Economic, Card Drafting · 3 shared tags · 1 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Nations: both play at 3 · ~30 min longer · +0.5 heavier
18. 

    18. A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) (2015)

    2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy · See A Game of Thrones The Card Game (Second Edition) alternatives →

    Shares with Nations: Card Game, Card Drafting, Variable Player Powers · 3 shared tags · 2 of Nations’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Nations: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · same complexity

Looking for the original? See the full Nations fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.