Age of Renaissance

Think of it as Civilization on a tabletop, with cards and auctions standing in for a tech tree on a screen. Each player runs a city-state through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, collecting technical advances for points while trying to keep the misery of the people low. A shared deck of events, payouts and famous leaders drives everything, and nobody knows when a given card will surface, so no two games unfold alike. Payouts grow the more of one resource you hold, and a smooth combat system settles the fights between neighbors. It is often called a semi-sequel to Civilization. Long, thoughtful and best with five or six players.