8–99
15 min
2–6
Empire Cards have been classified as extremely addictive. Once you start, you may want to play all the time!
Look at your hand, but don’t let anyone else see your cards! Put the rest of the deck face-down in the middle.
Advanced: to play on a smaller map for just 2 people, remove all Africa and South America (orange and purple) cards.
Whoever was most recently on an airplane, or who won the last game, goes first. The first person takes 2 cards from the face-down pile.
Always take 2 new cards at the start of your turn, unless you have none left... then take 5 cards instead of 2 to get a new set!
You play a city by putting in front of you, or play an action in a face-up action pile next to the deck.
You can play up to 3 cards per turn, but you don’t have to play any — except in your first turn, when you must play at least 1 card.
Each action card has instructions, which you should read out loud until everyone knows all the cards.
If charging money with an action, calculate and announce how much each person must pay you.
Actions can be played even if they have no effect, though that is not recommended.
Some actions can charge other players. Cities have a number printed in the top corner indicating their value. Only what is on the table can be used to pay these. No change is given!
You cannot pay with cards in your hand. However “reaction” cards like “Defense” can come from your hand to block an action.
A full country is a country with 3 or more cities.
It can have wildcards, but cannot be only wildcards. It does not need the capital city, though it is recommended.
You can’t have more than 1 of a country. For example, 6 cities in the same country still count as one full country.