- BGG rank
- BGG #385
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Imperial
- 2–6 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #410
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Imperial 2030
2009
Rules assistance for Imperial 2030
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 120–180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Imperial 2030
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Imperial 2030 is a board game released in 2009 for 2–6 players, 120–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mac Gerdts and its main mechanics are Ownership, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
Imperial 2030 is a game on its own, based on the rules of Imperial. The six powers (USA, Europe, Russia, China, India, and Brazil) develop their industrial basis and build up armies and fleets. They fight over control of neutral land and sea areas in order to become the most powerful nation worldwide. In this game it is not the players who take turns, but the six powers, one after another. The players are just internationally operating investors who act in the background. By giving money to the six powers, which all have their own treasuries, the players influence the politics. The biggest investor in each nation gains control of that nation's government and decides what the nation will do. As control of a government can change with each new investment, players may control several governments at the same time. As investors, players should not get too attached to their preferred nation, but rather focus on where their investments have the best rates of return. Essentially the game is about money, and not about military domination! Imperial 2030 was released at Essen 2009 by PD-Games and Rio Grande Games. Compared to "Imperial" there will be some new features: - new wooden bits - the Swiss Bank - a new 30 million bond to invest in - more neutral territory, generating higher taxation - fewer home provinces - control of canals (Panama and Suez). For those who already owned Imperial, there was the opportunity to get only the new map and bonds at Essen '09, as it can be played with the old wooden bits as well.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Wargames Club Publishing
- Hobby World
- Rio Grande Games
- Egmont Polska
- Cranio Creations
- The Game Master BV
- Pensamento Coletivo
- PD-Verlag
Questions and answers
Imperial 2030 supports 2–6 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 Imperial 2030 is 120–180 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 Imperial 2030 for ages 12 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.
Imperial 2030 has a complexity rating of 3.5 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.
Imperial 2030 belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and Political. Its main mechanics are Ownership, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Imperial 2030 are: Mac Gerdts. 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 Imperial 2030 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.