7 Wonders is an amazing game that I will rarely play with less than 5 players if given the choice. You can technically play it with two players, but this means adding a dummy player to the mix. This is, in my opinion, the worst possible way to play 7 Wonders.
So I was super happy when 7 Wonders Duel was announced. Very similar to the ‘full’ game, but designed for 2 players only. Instead of drafting from hands of cards, players buy cards from solitaire like pyramids. Or discard them for gold. Or use them to build a Wonder.
For fans of 7 Wonders that want to play two-player only, 7 Wonders Duel is an amazing game.
It has been a time since I played 7 Wonders Duel. Four years, according to BG Stats. During that time, my memories of engine building in the game had become muddled. I thought scoring and speed were like 7 Wonders Architects.
While explaining 7 Wonders Duel to Rabbit over chat, I remembered how convoluted it actually is. 7 Wonders players will slip into Duel instantly, but explaining it to a new player can be daunting.
With no multiple decks to shuffle and set up to handle, I thought Rabbit and I would get through a game in 10 minutes. Including explanations, the first game took a smidge over 40 minutes. The second game was still close to a half-hour.
I am confident that if both players are familiar with 7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel on Board Game Arena can be finished in 10 minutes. Rabbit and I just weren’t at this level.
Maybe I can talk a couple of others into playing with me, as I wouldn’t mind playing some of the expansions. Both are available on Board Game Arena, and I like the idea of trying before considering buying them.