Monumental Duel: Handel

The Japan versus Mali matchup plays so differently each time that I keep wanting one more round. Turns move fast once you know the card icons, and the whole game fits in about thirty minutes.

Played three rounds back to back and the Japan vs Mali matchup stayed tense right to the last turn. Turns move fast enough that nobody's waiting around, which is rare for a civ builder. Already eyeing the Mexico deck for next game night.

The pacing is what gets me—each round of building through antiquity to modern times flies by, and the Japan/Mali/Mexico culture choices make every city feel distinct. I’ve already lost an evening to it, and the competitive edge keeps it tense without dragging.