Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery

About this board game

Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery is a 2007 board game for 2–5 players, with games lasting about 120 minutes. Designed by Glenn Drover, it casts each player as a colonial power seeking fame, glory, and riches in the New World.

Across three ages, players pursue the opportunities and challenges of exploration. Launch expeditions of discovery, colonize regions, expand your merchant fleet, and develop your economy as your nation grows.

Capital buildings give each nation distinct advantages, adding another way to shape your approach. When necessary, players can also declare war, bringing conflict into the struggle for influence and prosperity.

• Explore the New World through expeditions of discovery
• Colonize regions and expand your merchant fleet
• Develop your economy across three ages
• Build capital buildings with distinct national advantages
• Declare war when peaceful expansion is no longer enough

Originally published for five players, the game can also be played with six using the original components and board configuration, provided an additional set of figures in another color is added. A six-player expansion is also included in Glenn Drover’s Empires: Builder Expansion, alongside new capital buildings and National Advantage tiles.

With exploration, colonization, economic development, construction, and the possibility of war all contributing to the race for fame and wealth, Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery offers a broad journey through the era of discovery. It should not be confused with Age of Discovery.