What if the Mayans had built the Roman Colosseum, or if the Huns were behind the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? This is the bold pitch for Near: Echoes of Civilizations, the new creation designed by Matthieu Podevin, illustrated by Anthony Wolff, and published by La Boîte de Jeu.
Slated for release this year in 2026, this strategy game positions itself in the “Informed/Expert” category (with a complexity rating of 3.00 / 5) and promises to condense three millennia of history into dynamic sessions lasting 1 to 2 hours.
History in 3 Ages and 12 Turns
The greatest strength of Near lies in its fluidity and tight pacing. The game plays out strictly over 3 Ages, each divided into just 4 turns. With a total of only 12 actions across the entire game, every decision is bound to be crucial, leaving very little room for error.
At the heart of the gameplay, players must play exactly 2 cards per turn to trigger powerful combinatory effects, structured around three core mechanics:
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Developing 5 domains: Transport, Trade, Military, Religion, and Production.
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Making history: Triggering major events or unlocking cultural and scientific discoveries through direct card effects.
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Map expansion: Building structures on a modular central board composed of hexagonal tiles to maximize their synergies and expand influence.
Asymmetry and Dynamic Scoring
The game features an asymmetrical setup where each player controls a unique civilization and a starting Wonder, which will shape their initial strategic choices from the very first minutes.
Mid-game scoring phases occur at the end of each Age based on specific objectives that change from one game to the next, rewarding players who best leave their mark on history. Finally, the end-game scoring promises to be rich and deeply interconnected, factoring in played cards, built structures, and the overall coherence of your strategy across the ages.
In Summary
Designed for 2 to 4 players (ages 14 and up), Near shapes up to be an excellent proposition for fans of deep civilization games who are looking for streamlined card mechanics, board interaction, and a condensed yet highly strategic format. This is definitely a title from a major French publisher to keep a close eye on!
