
Today we’re diving into Civolution. This is the latest brain-burner from Stefan Feld, a legendary designer in the board game world, and it’s all about building your civilization through careful planning, resource management, and a touch of luck. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s break it down – what it is, what’s good, what’s bad, and if you should pick it up. Let’s get into it.

What It Is
Civolution is a deep, strategic civilization-building board game from Pegasus Spiele, designed by the iconic Stefan Feld. The game puts players in charge of guiding their civilizations across multiple stages of development, balancing resources, exploration, and technological advancement. It’s a game that thrives on its open-ended gameplay, allowing for countless strategies and paths to victory. With a dice-placement mechanic reminiscent of The Castles of Burgundy, but taken to a whole new level of complexity, this is a game that’s designed for experienced gamers who crave a challenge.
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Gameplay Overview
The game combines elements of resource management, technological advancement, and territorial expansion, set against a continent-shaped game board. Players must navigate complex systems and decision-making processes, balancing short-term gains with long-term goals to achieve victory.
The game starts with each player receiving a console (a player board), seven dice (including a pink fate die and six white dice), 20 tribe pieces, five cards, and an empty stage partition for building a tableau. The game board is divided into territories and sites, with territories producing specific resources that players can exploit. The game progresses through four eras, each consisting of eight phases: three preliminary setup phases, one main action phase, and four end-of-era phases for upkeep and scoring.
In the preliminary setup, players draw event and research cards, choose goal chips, and gain resources from occupied territories. These phases set the stage for the main action phase by preparing players with cards and additional resources, providing them with a foundation to expand and develop their civilization. Sites, which are face-down octagonal pieces on the board, can be developed later, adding an element of surprise and strategy.
The action phase is where the majority of gameplay takes place. Players take turns performing actions by spending combinations of dice on their console. There are 22 possible actions to choose from, such as upgrading action modules, expanding territories, or performing production actions. A unique “sleep” action can be performed using any two dice, allowing players to gain valuable resources like focus or ideas. Players can also reset the action phase multiple times, with the number of resets depending on the player count.
Resource management is central to Civolution, requiring players to balance different types of goods, including food, money, and focus. Players can also gain additional dice through specific actions, although the supply is limited, leading to competition for resources and dice. The game’s favor system, controlled by the pink fate die, adds an element of luck and can influence the success of certain actions, depending on the results of favor rolls.
Expansion is another key aspect of the game. Players can move their tribes between territories, with stronger tribes (standing) being able to migrate and expand, while weaker tribes (lying down) are more vulnerable and require special actions to be strengthened. Settling new territories often involves displacing other tribes and developing the area for additional resources, making territorial control a vital aspect of the game. Production actions allow players to gather raw resources from the continent, which can then be transported back to their consoles as stored goods.
The game’s tech tree-like upgrade system allows players to improve their action modules, which enhances their ability to perform actions. Players must choose wisely when to upgrade, as each upgrade opens up new possibilities while balancing the need for immediate results. The stage partition, where players build their tableau of cards and chips, also contributes to final scoring and provides ongoing benefits throughout the game, further adding depth to the strategy.
Civolution is a complex game with multiple interconnected systems, including dice management, resource production, territorial control, and research advancement. The game’s four-era structure provides a sense of progression, with new challenges and scoring dynamics emerging as the game unfolds. By mastering these systems and finding synergies between them, players can develop a winning strategy. With several paths to victory, players can focus on technological development, territorial expansion, or resource management, depending on their preferred playstyle and the game state.

The Components
Civolution doesn’t skimp on components, offering a main board, individual player consoles for resource tracking, a modular map for exploration, and decks of cards for technologies and advancements. The iconography is clear, and the overall production quality is solid, though early copies reportedly had some minor issues, like missing pieces.
Storage is well-thought-out, making setup and teardown surprisingly manageable for such a complex game. The modular board and randomized elements keep every playthrough unique, adding to the game’s replayability.
The Good
Civolution excels in offering unparalleled depth and replayability. The open-ended gameplay lets players experiment with different strategies each time, whether they want to focus on exploration, technological progress, or resource optimization. This sandbox approach means that no two games will ever feel the same, rewarding players who enjoy trying new tactics and adapting to changing circumstances.
The dice-placement mechanic is a standout feature, adding layers of strategy and flexibility. Deciding which actions to take and how to mitigate bad rolls keeps every turn engaging and forces players to think several steps ahead. Additionally, the card system is immensely satisfying, requiring players to plan and execute multi-step processes to unlock powerful abilities or score big points. It’s a rewarding payoff when everything comes together.
Production-wise, the game’s efficient storage solution and modular board design are highlights. Despite the complexity, it’s easier to set up and pack away than many games of this scale, making it more likely to hit the table for repeat plays.

The Bad
That said, Civolution is not for the faint of heart. Its complexity and steep learning curve can make it intimidating, especially for newer players. Teaching the game can take upwards of an hour, and the sheer number of options during play can lead to analysis paralysis, even for seasoned gamers. This is a game that demands commitment, and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
Luck also plays a significant role, from dice rolls to card draws and map exploration. While there are ways to mitigate randomness, such as rerolls or strategic card drafting, unlucky draws can derail even the best-laid plans. For some, this variability adds excitement, but others may find it frustrating when luck disrupts their strategy.
Finally, the game’s playtime can be daunting, with longer sessions for larger groups or less experienced players. At two to three hours per game, it’s a significant time investment, making it better suited for dedicated gaming groups than casual players.
The Verdict
Civolution is an ambitious, deeply rewarding game that showcases Stefan Feld at his most intricate. It’s a civilization builder that rewards careful planning, adaptability, and long-term strategy, with plenty of room for experimentation and replayability. The open-ended design and interconnected systems make every decision feel impactful, creating a rich and engaging experience for players who enjoy heavy games.
However, the game’s complexity, length, and reliance on luck elements may limit its appeal. This is not a game for casual gamers or those looking for quick, straightforward fun. Instead, Civolution shines brightest in the hands of experienced players who enjoy diving into multi-layered systems and don’t mind a bit of randomness along the way.

Final Thoughts
Civolution is dense, sprawling, and full of interesting decisions, but it’s definitely not a game you can casually throw on the table and dive into. It demands patience, focus, and a willingness to grapple with a hefty rulebook and a steep learning curve. If you’re into big, brain-burning strategy games, it could be right up your alley—but if you’re looking for something accessible or fast-paced, this one might be more of a struggle than it’s worth.
What stood out to me most is just how open-ended the gameplay feels. The game doesn’t hold your hand or point you toward a particular strategy. You’re given a ton of tools—cards, dice, resources—and it’s entirely up to you to figure out how to turn them into a winning approach. This freedom is refreshing but also a little daunting, especially in your first couple of plays. I’ll admit, during my first game, I spent a lot of time just trying to make sense of all the options, and it was hard to tell if I was doing anything “right.” By the second play, though, things started clicking, and that sense of freedom turned into a real strength.
The dice-placement mechanic is the heart of the game, and it’s both clever and frustrating at times. There’s something really satisfying about chaining together the perfect series of actions, but a bad roll or unlucky card draw can throw a wrench in your plans. To be fair, the game gives you ways to mitigate bad luck, but it can still sting when your strategy stalls because the right card or resource just doesn’t show up. On the flip side, the randomness keeps the game feeling fresh and unpredictable, which is something I appreciate in a heavier game like this.
One area where Civolution really shines is its card system. It’s not just a simple “pay the cost and play the card” situation; you have to plan ahead, gather resources, and carefully time your moves to make the most of each card. Pulling off a well-orchestrated play feels incredibly rewarding. That said, this complexity means the game can be a tough sell for new players. Teaching it was a bit of a slog, and the first round felt like we were all just fumbling through the motions. But by the end of that game, we started to see the bigger picture, and it was worth the effort.
I also want to mention the game’s production quality, which is mostly great. The modular board and efficient storage are nice touches, and the components are clear and functional. Still, there are a lot of bits and pieces, so setup takes a while, and some early production issues with missing components could be frustrating if you’re unlucky enough to run into them.
Civolution is a game that rewards investment. It’s not perfect—the randomness and complexity can be hurdles—but if you’re willing to stick with it, there’s a deeply satisfying experience waiting for you. It’s not a game I’d play every week, but when I want something heavy and strategic, it’s definitely going to be in the rotation. If you’re a fan of Feld’s designs or just love a good civilization-building game with layers of depth, Civolution is absolutely worth checking out. For everyone else, it might take a few plays (and a bit of patience) to fully appreciate what this game has to offer.
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