Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East

Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East is a strategic civilization game for 1 to 6 players, using the same core system as Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea while standing fully on its own.

Players guide ancient powers across a wide map stretching from the Hellespont to the Indus and from the Caspian to the Red Sea. Civilizations such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, the Hittites, Sumer, Israel, Persia, and the Sea Peoples compete through expansion, city building, conflict, disasters, and divine authority.

This is a streamlined, card-driven civilization game rather than a detailed economic simulation. Players expand with wooden disks, manage position across different terrain types, establish powerful deities, and respond to events that can bring opportunity, catastrophe, or direct conflict. The game can be played as a competitive warlike struggle, a more peaceful contest of growth and culture, or something in between depending on the group.

Compared to Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, this title adds new terrain effects, deity rules, more civilizations, and a setting focused on the ancient Near East and Biblical-era kingdoms. It also includes extensive solitaire support, allowing scenarios and the full game to be played against system-controlled civilizations.

Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East is a strong fit for players who want an accessible but highly replayable civilization game with broad historical scope, variable scenarios, and room for both conflict and empire building.

Contents include: a mounted game board, wooden disks and blocks, deity and terrain markers, player aids, civilization display cards, solitaire aid, cards, rulebook, and playbook.