COMPARE
VS
★ 7 WONDERS WINS
7 WONDERS VS BATTLESHIP
3–7
PLAYERS
2
30–45 min
PLAY TIME
15–30 min
10+
AGE
7+
2.3 / 5
COMPLEXITY
1.2 / 5
Antoine Bauza
DESIGNER
Clifford Von Wickler (original 1931 pencil-and-paper)
2010
YEAR
1931
8.9 / 10
COMMUNITY SCORE
6.9 / 10
7 WONDERS VERDICT
The best 7-player Euro on the market — and one of the best 4-5 player Euros too. Almost mandatory if your group ever exceeds 4.
BATTLESHIP VERDICT
More strategy than its reputation suggests, but a one-trick experience. Good for a single 20-minute session, exhausted after five.
7 WONDERS
✓ PROS
- Plays in the same 30 minutes at 3 players or 7
- Simultaneous drafting eliminates downtime
- Multiple viable strategies (military, science, civil, commerce)
- Duel (2-player variant) is excellent in its own right
✗ CONS
- Iconography is dense — first game is steep
- Military scoring feels swingy at high player counts
- Hard to teach all paths in one game; new players miss strategies
BATTLESHIP
✓ PROS
- Real probability strategy emerges at intermediate skill
- Parity hunting (only target same-color squares) doubles your hit rate
- Cheap, fast, no setup beyond hiding ships
- Universal recognition — anyone can play
✗ CONS
- Pure luck dominates the first 5–10 shots
- Replayability is thin — same game every time
- No catch-up mechanism if opponent gets early hits
★ WHICH ONE FOR YOU?
- 7 WONDERSHigher overall score (8.9/10 vs 6.9/10)
- BATTLESHIPEasier to teach — complexity 1.2 vs 2.3 (7 WONDERS is heavier)
- 7 WONDERSMore strategic depth — complexity 2.3 vs 1.2
- 7 WONDERSScales to more players (3–7 vs 2)
- BATTLESHIPFamily-friendly — kids can play
- 7 WONDERSMore modern design (2010 vs 1931)
