- BGG rating
- 7.6
Empires: Builder Expansion
- 3–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #400
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery
2007
Rules assistance for Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 10+
- Complexity 3.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery is a board game released in 2007 for 2–5 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Glenn Drover and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Worker Placement.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,026
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Empires: Age of Discovery
- 2–6 players
- 50–150 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,711
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Sid Meier's Civilization: The Boardgame
- 2–6 players
- 120–360 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #250
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Village
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #754
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Mosaic: A Story of Civilization
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #90
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Darwin's Journey
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,261
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #469
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Luthier
- 1–4 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #531
- BGG rating
- 7.8
The Great Wall
- 1–4 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #63
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Anachrony
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,646
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,251
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Fallout Shelter: The Board Game
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,858
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Age of Mythology: The Boardgame
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2003
About the game
Designed by Glenn Drover, this boardgame allows you to revisit the age of exploration and discovery. Take on the role of a colonial power seeking fame, glory, and riches in the New World. As you proceed through three ages, you can launch expeditions of discovery, colonize regions, expand your merchant fleet, build capitol buildings that give your nation distinct advantages, develop your economy, and, if necessary, declare war. Though originally published for 5 players, the game is playable by 6 with the original components and board configuration with addition of a set of figures in another color. This was originally offered as an "expansion" and an incentive to pre-order the game. A 6 player expansion is also in the Glenn Drover's Empires: Builder Expansion, along with new capital buildings and National Advantage tiles. Not to be confused with Age of Discovery.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Edge Entertainment
- Ubik
- Smart Ltd
- ADC Blackfire Entertainment
- Pro Ludo
- Quined White Goblin Games
- Mass Games
- Tropical Games
- Idea Edizioni
- Microsoft Game Studios
Questions and answers
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery is 90–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery belongs to these categories: Video Game Theme, Exploration, and Civilization. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Worker Placement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery are: Glenn Drover. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.