Ancient Conquest (1975)

About this game

Ancient Conquest is a classic and highly rated multiplayer game covering at a grand strategic level the rise and fall of empires and peoples in the ancient near east. Roughly covering the period from the New Kingdom of Egypt to the Age of Four Kingdoms (chronologically from 1500 BC to 600 BC), the game combines the diplomacy and political objectives of the involved peoples and empires of this period with a fast-moving and playable combat system. Ancient Assyria, Egypt, Babylon and the Hittites are all included, as well as numerous other powers. Ancient Conquest is a highly accurate game, historically speaking, though it is built around some elegantly simple mechanisms.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 4 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.