History of the World (board game)

Lore & Background

The first edition of History of the World by Ragnar Brothers was released in 1991 and featured a hand-made cloth map instead of a board. It sold out in a few weeks, according to game designer Steve Kendall. Following this, alternative language editions were released by various publishers. In 1993, a new edition was published by Avalon Hill, who updated the visual design of the game and added a system of event card management. After Avalon Hill was purchased by Hasbro in the early 2000s, History of the World was re-released as a big box game. Ragnar Brothers released a revised version of the game, A Brief History of the World, in 2009. The most recent edition was released in 2018 by Z-Man Games.

The game is played in seven rounds known as epochs (6 epochs in the 2009 edition, and 5 epochs in the 2018 edition), which correspond to different historical periods. At the beginning of every epoch, each player–starting with the player with the lowest score and ending with the player with the highest–draws an Empire Card and assumes the role of that empire for the round. Each empire has advantages and disadvantages based on the order in which it appears in an epoch as well as its starting location on the world map, number of armies, ability to access certain lands by sea, and whether or not it possesses a capital; empires without capitals are known as 'Marauders' and gain an additional point when they reduce an opponent's structure. During each empire's turn, its allocated units are placed on the board beginning from its capital or starting space and proceeding through contiguous areas and controlled seas or oceans. Occupation of empty territory is automatic, while dice-based combat rules are applied if a unit is placed in an area already occupied by another player's forces. At the end of each player's turn, they are given a score based on how much control they have of regions of the board (known as 'Areas') and how many capital, cities, and monuments they possess. Players are also given 'Greater Events' and 'Lesser Events' cards at the beginning of the game, which can be used throughout to gain certain advantages.

Reader's Guide

History of the World is significant as a board game that has seen multiple editions and revisions over three decades, reflecting its enduring appeal in the hobby gaming community. Its design by Ragnar Brothers introduced a system where players assume different empires each epoch, a mechanic that was praised by reviewers for its method of distributing empires and its point system. The game's concept of scoring based on level of control in a region was cited by designer Jason Matthews as an influence on the later game Twilight Struggle. The Avalon Hill edition won the Origins Award for 'Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame of 1993', indicating industry recognition. Reviews have been mixed on graphic design—Bruno Faidutti criticized the Avalon Hill edition's plain and unappealing graphic design, while later editions, particularly the 2018 Z-Man Games version, received praise for updated graphics and component quality. The game's legacy includes influencing other designers and maintaining a presence through online play (renamed Empires) and inclusion in museum collections such as The Strong National Museum of Play. Its various editions—from the original hand-made cloth map to the streamlined 2018 version—demonstrate adaptation to changing tastes and production standards.

Did You Know?

• The first edition of History of the World featured a hand-made cloth map instead of a board and sold out in a few weeks.
• The 2018 edition by Z-Man Games reduced the number of epochs to five, compared to seven in the original.

A Decade of Rebirths: The Game's Publication Journey

History of the World originated in 1991 when the design collective Ragnar Brothers brought their vision to market. The inaugural edition was distinctive in its physical presentation, featuring a hand-made cloth map rather than a traditional rigid board. According to game designer Steve Kendall, this first printing sold out within a matter of weeks, prompting alternative language editions from a variety of publishers. In 1993, Avalon Hill stepped in with a refreshed edition that overhauled the visual design and introduced a system of event card management, giving players additional strategic tools. When Hasbro acquired Avalon Hill in the early 2000s, the title was reissued as a big-box game, broadening its retail presence. Ragnar Brothers themselves returned to the formula in 2009 with a revised release titled A Brief History of the World. The latest chapter arrived in 2018, when Z-Man Games published a new edition that would go on to earn enthusiastic critical praise. Across more than two and a half decades, the core concept has remained remarkably consistent while the packaging, components, and rule refinements have evolved with each new publisher.

Rotating Empires: A Turn Structure Built on Historical Epochs

History of the World accommodates up to six players who advance through rounds called epochs, each representing a distinct historical period. The 1991 and 1993 editions featured seven epochs, the 2009 revision trimmed this to six, and the 2018 Z-Man edition reduced it to five. At the start of every epoch, players draw an Empire Card in order from lowest to highest score, so the trailing player selects first. Each empire carries a unique mix of strengths and weaknesses shaped by its placement order, starting location, army count, sea access, and whether it holds a capital. Empires without a capital are called Marauders and earn a bonus point when they reduce an opponent's structure. During a turn, units deploy from the capital or starting space outward through contiguous territory and controlled seas. Empty areas are occupied automatically, but contested placement triggers dice-based combat. Winning in a territory holding a capital, city, or monument allows that structure to be reduced. Scoring reflects how many board areas and structures a player controls. The remnants of each empire remain on the board until conquered, and Greater and Lesser Event cards dealt at the game's start can be played at any point for tactical advantages.

Critical Acclaim and the Origins Award

In 1994, the Avalon Hill edition of History of the World won the Origins Award for Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame of 1993, a recognition that marked the game's standing in the hobby. Game critic Bruno Faidutti offered a more measured take in Casus Belli. In Issue 78, he briefly reviewed the Avalon Hill version and singled out the graphic design as plain and unappealing. He revisited the title in a longer review for Issue 80, repeating that design criticism but then praising the game's method of distributing empires across each era, its point system, and the fact that the Avalon Hill edition included more pawns than the Gibson Games version. Decades later, the 2018 Z-Man edition drew near-universal praise. William Niebling of ICv2 awarded a perfect five-out-of-five, commending the updated graphics and component quality. He noted that gameplay felt brisk, decisions carried weight, luck remained a factor without dominating, and the overall balance felt tight. Matt Jarvis of Tabletop Gaming echoed the enthusiasm, highlighting the trimmed gameplay and the way the game subverted the classic civilisation format. He called it playful without being frivolous and described it as enormous fun.

Legacy, Influence, and Life Beyond the Table

History of the World's influence reaches well beyond its own box. Designer Jason Matthews has cited the game's scoring system—based on the level of control a player exercises over a region—as an influence on his later design, Twilight Struggle. The title has also crossed into other media: a video game adaptation exists under the same name, and an online play version has been released under the shortened title Empires. The game's physical editions are catalogued on BoardGameGeek for all three major releases—the 1991 original, the 2009 A Brief History of the World, and the 2018 Z-Man version. It is also featured in the digital collection of The Strong National Museum of Play, accessible through Google Arts & Culture. For a game that began as a hand-made cloth map in a 1991 print run that sold out within weeks, its continued presence across more than three decades of hobby culture speaks to the lasting appeal of its core design.

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