How to Play Empires of Influence | Board Game Rules & Videos

Skip to content

The full Empires of Influence game laid out: infinity board, country cards, industry cards, money and map key

A fan of Reserve Bank of the World notes and a $20 Mil money die on the Empires of Influence board

The basics

Earn it. Trade it. Protect it.

At the table, world leaders compete to develop economic strength and collect countries through a mix of trivia, negotiation, auctions and strategic choices.

Published game profile: 2–8 players · ages 13+ · 30–300 minutes.

Winning: the game's published description explains two paths: own all eight countries before time runs out, or finish with the strongest mix of wealth, low debt and country ownership. Confirm the precise tie-breaks in your rulebook.

Gameplay overview

Four kinds of choices.

Empires of Influence country trivia cards for Vietnam, Venezuela and Kenya on a wooden table

01 / ANSWER

Test your knowledge

World trivia and country facts create opportunities to earn money and gain ground.

Illustration of Empires of Influence cards, money, dice and a cargo ship around a globe, with a handshake

02 / INVEST

Build your position

Consider industries, resources and opportunities as you grow your economic influence.

Two players' hands exchanging Empires of Influence cards

03 / NEGOTIATE

Make a deal

Bids, alliances and trades can alter your path to victory.

A masked thief with a sack over his shoulder signals silence, representing hijacking in Empires of Influence

04 / ADAPT

Expect a twist

Game events and special mechanics, including hijacking, mean plans can change.

See the original tutorials

Watch the game in action.

These videos are referenced in the earlier EOI website materials. They are external YouTube links; individual videos may change availability.

How to Play Empires of Influence

Overview for first-time players.

The Path to Victory

Game strategies and winning conditions.

Country Cards Tutorial

Understand the country cards.

How to Hijack in EOI

A special game mechanic.

Questions about a rule or an edition?

We can help route you toward the game resources and current availability information.

Ask a game question →