As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
How to play 7 Wonders (2026): 7 Wonders is a card-drafting game for three to seven players in which everyone leads an ancient city. Over three rounds called Ages, you pick one card from your hand, play it, and pass the rest of the hand to a neighbor. Cards build resources, monuments, armies and science. After three Ages, the city with the most points wins. A full game takes about 30 minutes no matter how many people play, because everyone takes their turn at the same time. This guide follows the official second-edition rulebook.
The box you need: 7 Wonders (second edition)
The current edition includes seven Wonder boards, 148 Age cards, coins, military tokens and a score pad. It plays three to seven, with every player active on every turn.
Price band: $30+ (about $51) · Check today’s price on Amazon
7 Wonders setup
- Sort the Age I, II and III cards. For each Age, keep only cards whose player count is equal to or lower than the number of players.
- Shuffle the purple Guild cards and add a number equal to the player count plus two into the Age III deck. Return the rest to the box.
- Each player takes a Wonder board at random and chooses the Day or Night side. The Day side is recommended for first games.
- Each player takes 3 coins worth 1 as starting treasure. The rest form the bank.
- Place the military tokens in a pile in the middle. Shuffle each Age deck separately.
How an Age works in 7 Wonders
At the start of each Age, deal seven cards to every player. Each Age lasts six turns. On every turn, all players do three things at the same time:
- Choose a card from your hand and place it face down in front of you.
- Play that card once everyone is ready, using one of three actions below.
- Pass the rest of your hand to your neighbor: to the left in Ages I and III, to the right in Age II.
On the sixth turn you receive a hand of two cards. Play one and discard the other without earning coins.
The three ways to use a 7 Wonders card
- Construct the building. Pay its cost and place it in your city. You can never build two cards with the same name.
- Build a stage of your Wonder. Pay the cost printed on your board and tuck the card under the next stage, from left to right.
- Sell the card. Discard it face down and take 3 coins from the bank.
Paying costs, trading and chains
A cost can be free, a coin cost or a resource cost. You produce one resource per symbol in your city, and resources are never used up: if you make one Wood, you have one Wood every turn. If you lack a resource, you may buy it from either neighbor for 2 coins per resource. They keep their card and can still use it.
From Age II onward, many cards show a chain symbol. If you already built a card with that same symbol, you build the new card for free. Planning a chain from Age I into Age III is one of the best ways to save money.
The seven card colors
| Color | Type | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Basic materials | Clay, Stone, Ore, Wood |
| Grey | Manufactured goods | Glass, Cloth, Papyrus |
| Blue | Civil buildings | Victory points |
| Yellow | Commercial buildings | Coins, discounts, scoring bonuses |
| Red | Military buildings | Shields for battles |
| Green | Science buildings | Science symbols |
| Purple | Guilds | Points based on conditions |
Military conflicts at the end of each Age
When an Age ends, compare your total shields with each neighbor separately. Beat a neighbor and take a victory token worth 1 point in Age I, 3 in Age II or 5 in Age III. Lose and take a defeat token worth minus 1. Ties give nothing. Because you fight both neighbors every Age, a strong army can swing a close game.
Scoring 7 Wonders
- Points from completed Wonder stages.
- One point for every full set of 3 coins.
- The total of your military tokens.
- Points printed on blue cards, plus yellow and purple card bonuses.
- Science: for each of the three symbols, score the number you have squared (one symbol is 1 point, two are 4, three are 9). Then add 7 points for every complete set of three different symbols.
The highest total wins. If players tie, the player with more coins wins.
First-game tips for 7 Wonders
- Watch what your neighbors produce. Cheap trading partners save you whole turns.
- Do not ignore the military. Two or three red cards can protect you from losing points every Age.
- Commit to science or skip it. Science scores slowly at first and explodes when you collect sets.
- Sell a card rather than waste it. Three coins is often worth more than a weak building.
Only have two players? Our 7 Wonders vs 7 Wonders Duel comparison explains the two-player version. For more big-table strategy, browse our best strategy board games for adults.
7 Wonders rules questions
How many players can play 7 Wonders?
The base game plays three to seven. For two players, 7 Wonders Duel is the dedicated version.
Can you build the same card twice?
No. Every building in your city must have a different name.
Do you have to build your Wonder?
No. Wonder stages are optional, but they are usually worth points and powerful effects.
Which way do you pass cards?
Left in Ages I and III, right in Age II. The direction is printed on the card backs.
