--- product_id: 2579551 title: "Small World Board Game - Fantasy Area Control & Strategy Game with Magical Creatures, Special Powers, Family Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 40-80 Min Playtime" brand: "asmodee" price: "R2796" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 7 category: "Asmodee" url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2579551-small-world-board-game-fantasy-area-control-and-strategy-game store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # 40-80 min playtime 20 unique special powers 14 fantasy races Small World Board Game - Fantasy Area Control & Strategy Game with Magical Creatures, Special Powers, Family Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 40-80 Min Playtime **Brand:** asmodee **Price:** R2796 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > 🌍 Conquer, Decline, Repeat β€” Own the Small World, Big Strategy! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Small World Board Game - Fantasy Area Control & Strategy Game with Magical Creatures, Special Powers, Family Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 40-80 Min Playtime by asmodee - **How much does it cost?** R2796 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2579551-small-world-board-game-fantasy-area-control-and-strategy-game) ## Best For - asmodee enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted asmodee brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Fast-Paced Conquest:** Engage in thrilling 40-80 minute battles that fit perfectly into busy schedules. - β€’ **Endless Strategic Replay:** 14 diverse fantasy races Γ— 20 special powers = infinite combos to master. - β€’ **Dynamic Empire Management:** Balance expansion and decline to outsmart opponents and seize victory. - β€’ **Family & Friends Approved:** Accessible for ages 8+, perfect for bonding over competitive fun. - β€’ **Premium Components & Design:** High-quality European-style board and tokens for an immersive experience. ## Overview Small World is a captivating fantasy area control board game for 2-5 players aged 8 and up, featuring 14 unique races and 20 special powers. Designed by Philippe Keyaerts, it offers 40-80 minutes of strategic gameplay where players expand empires, tactically decline civilizations, and compete for limited territory. With high replayability, premium components, and easy-to-learn mechanics, it’s a beloved classic that blends family-friendly fun with deep strategic layers. ## Description Product Description In Small World, players vie for conquest and control of a world that is simply too small to accommodate them all. Designed by Philippe Keyaerts as a fantasy follow-up to his award-winning Vinci, Small World is inhabited by a zany cast of characters such as dwarves, wizards, desertcarts, giants, orcs and even humans; who use their troops to occupy territory and conquer adjacent lands in order to push the other races off the face of the earth. Picking the right combination from the 14 different fantasy races and 20 unique special powers, players rush to expand their empires - often at the expense of weaker neighbors. Yet they must also know when to push their own over-extended civilization into decline and ride a new one to victory! From the Manufacturer Small World is a zany, light-hearted civilization game in which 2-5 players vie for conquest and control of a board that is simply too small to accommodate them all. Picking the right combination of fantasy races and unique special powers, players must rush to expand their empires - often at the expense of weaker neighbors. Yet they must also know when to push their own over-extended civilization into decline and ride a new one to victory. Designed by Philippe Keyaerts, as the fantasy follow-up to his award-winning Vinci, Small World is inhabited by a cast of characters such as dwarves, wizards, desertcarts, giants, orcs and even humans; who use their troops to occupy territory and conquer adjacent lands in order to push the other races off the face of the earth. Small World marks the return of the Days of Wonder line of heavily-themed, big-box sized games featuring evocative illustrations, high-quality European components and a compelling, fun theme. Game Contents: Two double-sided game boards (One for each of four possible player configurations), 14 Fantasy Races with matching banners & tokens, 20 Special Power badges, A variety of Troll Lairs, Mountains. Fortresses, Encampments, Holes-in-the-ground, 2 Heroes, A Dragon, Along with Victory Coins, 6 Player Summary Sheets, A Reinforcement Die, Rules Booklet and A Days of Wonder Online Access Number. Review: There's Something About Conquering a Map... - Conquering a map is so satisfying. I don't know why, but it is. Small World is a great game, as long as you know what you are getting. It's a low-to-mid-weight Euro-style strategy game, easy enough for kids to learn, but with enough strategy in it to appease adult strategists. It is not, however, a deep strategy game that will excite people looking for another version of Twilight Struggle, Puerto Rico, Agricola, etc. PREMISE The idea of Small World is to take a group (elves, trolls, humans, etc.) and randomly pair them with a special ability (flying, seafaring, commando, etc.) to get a unique combination of special powers, and then dominate your way across the map. Naturally, you will suffer from the "spread too thin" phenomenon of Risk, and your opponents will eventually plow through your pieces like an NFL player on a Pop Warner team. BUT, better than Risk, you don't have to stick with that group. You can give them up, selecting a NEW combination from the table, and start re-plowing through the opponent that just plowed you. (Or, you can conquer a different part of the map.) This keeps the game feeling fresh. REPLAYABILITY As I mentioned in the premise, the various combinations of groups, combined with a blank group card and a blank special power card, give this game a high amount of replay factor. It's also a GREAT game for 2 players. You can even control two different groups each and play on the four-player board, as I've done, for a different, more challenging, and zanier experience. STRATEGY LEVEL This is a low-to-medium-weight game. It has strategy along the lines of games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride. Those looking for a good family game with more strategy than average (almost no dice-rolling!) will love Small World. If you're looking for map conquering, this has got it. If you're looking for a long-term strategic, deeply contemplative game with lots of planning, seeing a visionary strategy through to completion, this is not your game. However, I am a lover of the Puerto Rico-type deep strategy game, and I absolutely love Small World to play as a "break" game in between long strategic sessions. It has enough strategy to appease my appetite for that kind of game, but is fun and lighthearted enough that I don't have to think too hard about what I'm doing. TIME COMMITMENT You can vary the amount of rounds that you play, using house rules, if you want. If you play the full game, it will take 45-60 minutes for a 2-player game. The first game takes a bit of getting used to, what with the rules and the specific special abilities of every type of group, but the mechanics are easy enough to pick up, and after one tutorial game, you should feel confident. Setup takes a few minutes, and there are many small pieces, so make sure you account for that. OVERALL I play it 2-player with my girlfriend all the time, and we love making up various house rules as well as playing it according to the rulebook. I've also played it multi-player, and it's even more zany and fun. A good addition to any game shelf. Review: One of the best competitive Euro-strategy/war games I've played yet! - Just adding another positive review here. We play a LOT of Euro (mainly German) board games, and this is a fantastic addition to our gaming library. Smallworld seems a little silly looking, judging by the box, but I assure you, this is a smart and fun game for fans of Euro board games. I wouldn't recommend this as the first Euro game to try (Carcassonne and Samurai are worthy starter games in the Euro realm), but it's a great game that has multiple layers of complexity and strategy. Most of all, it's fun! And HIGHLY competitive. 2-5 players 30-80 minutes (not sure what the box says, but my partner and I can play a round in 1/2 hour) Ages 10+ ** I know the desertcart description says 10-14, but that is not what the manufacturer states on the box (which is 10+) ** Some folks compare this to Risk, but I would say this is to Risk as a bicycle is to a Ducati. In a nutshell, you and your friends take turns conquering territory and reassigning your units. So it DOES sound like Risk! But wait! You don't have a singe army or race, instead you shuffle several races, and bonuses and place 5 on the board. Players pick from these 5, paying Victory points to select further down the five (first one is free). Once the player chooses, another is drawn and placed while the others move up to fill the gap. What this means is that each time playing, players will have different races with different stats, and different bonuses. So you might end up with Elves with the Berserk bonus, or Ghouls with Seafaring bonus (seafaring ghouls lol!). There are tons of combinations, and each has ups and downs. There are four maps on two sided heavy cardboard fold outs: one each for 2, 3, 4, and 5 player games. This makes it easier to get competitive and combative instead of trying to have two players duke it out on a huge 5 player board! Setting up the map is easy once players get the hang of it. On the first turn players start by invading the land from the edge of the board, unless they are seafaring, then they can invade water to start. Once you start invading, you end your turn (with an option to roll the reinforcement die on your last attack) and then redistribute your armies. You have to leave at least ONE unit on a territory during your attack phase or you can't redistribute on it. Each territory you have gives you Victory points. So you REALLY want to control more territory at the end of your turn. This also means you REALLY want your opponent to control less. The other twist comes from balancing your civilizations. You can elect to allow a civilization to go into decline, thereby gaining the chance to start a new civilization on your next turn. You gain points for your declining civilization, but unless stated otherwise (such as ghouls), these declining civs have no more actions and can only hold a spot on a territory until beaten off. Since you only have a finite number of units to use, once you start losing units (from being attacked), you find you are spread too thin and MUST start a new civilization to keep gaining VPs. So a KEY part of strategy is deciding when to lose a turn to allow your current civilization to go into decline. Each player keeps their VPs hidden, so at the end everyone tallies and it's always a bit of a surprise. I've found a few times I thought I was surely losing and that I won handily. Other times the opposite has been true. Regardless, this is a fantastic, fun, and innovative game. Highly recommended!!!! ## Features - FANTASY AREA CONTROL: Step into a whimsically crowded fantasy world where players compete for control using dwarves, wizards, desertcarts, and more. A game where the land is too small for everyone, promoting strategic conquests. - UNIQUE RACE & POWER COMBOS: Experience endless replayability with 14 different fantasy races and 20 unique special powers. Every game promises new strategies with combinations like Flying Dwarves or Peaceful Ogres. - STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY: Master the art of empire expansion and timing. Know when to push your civilization to its peak and when to let it decline for a new one to rise to victory. A balance of aggression and decline is key. - EASY TO LEARN, A CHALLENGE TO MASTER: Small World is accessible for newcomers and challenging for seasoned gamers, offering depth and replayability. Perfect for all types of players seeking various playstyles. - CLASSIC & BELOVED GAME: Designed by Philippe Keyaerts as a follow-up to the award-winning Vinci, Small World is a classic game of fantastical conquests and adventures, beloved by families and friends worldwide. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B0024H7OF6 | | Age Range Description | 3 years + | | Are Batteries Required | No | | Best Sellers Rank | #107,872 in Toys & Games ( See Top 100 in Toys & Games ) #2,618 in Board Games (Toys & Games) | | Brand Name | Asmodee | | CPSIA Cautionary Statement | Choking Hazard - Small Parts, No Warning Applicable | | Color | Multicolor | | Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,643) | | Edition | Standard Edition | | Educational Objective | Develop strategic thinking and planning skills, foster creativity and imagination | | Estimated Playing Time | 80 Minutes | | Genre | Strategy | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00824968726914 | | Included Components | Board Game | | Is Assembly Required | No | | Item Dimensions | 11.62 x 11.62 x 3 inches | | Item Dimensions L x W | 11.62"L x 2.88"W | | Item Type Name | Board Game | | Item Weight | 4.22 Pounds | | Language | English | | Manufacturer Maximum Age (MONTHS) | 1500 | | Manufacturer Minimum Age (MONTHS) | 120.0 | | Manufacturer Part Number | DO7901 | | Manufacturer Warranty Description | No Warranty | | Material Type | Plastic | | Minimum Age Recomendation | 96 | | Model Number | DO7901 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Number of Players | 2-5 | | Operation Mode | manual | | Set Name | Small World | | Size | Standalone Games | | Subject Character | Heroes | | Supported Battery Types | No batteries required | | Theme | Fantasy | | UPC | 607052445003 062335238411 885126985512 824968726914 | | Unit Count | 1.0 Count | ## Images ![Small World Board Game - Fantasy Area Control & Strategy Game with Magical Creatures, Special Powers, Family Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 40-80 Min Playtime - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91ZsVlklU8L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ There's Something About Conquering a Map... *by R***N on December 2, 2015* Conquering a map is so satisfying. I don't know why, but it is. Small World is a great game, as long as you know what you are getting. It's a low-to-mid-weight Euro-style strategy game, easy enough for kids to learn, but with enough strategy in it to appease adult strategists. It is not, however, a deep strategy game that will excite people looking for another version of Twilight Struggle, Puerto Rico, Agricola, etc. PREMISE The idea of Small World is to take a group (elves, trolls, humans, etc.) and randomly pair them with a special ability (flying, seafaring, commando, etc.) to get a unique combination of special powers, and then dominate your way across the map. Naturally, you will suffer from the "spread too thin" phenomenon of Risk, and your opponents will eventually plow through your pieces like an NFL player on a Pop Warner team. BUT, better than Risk, you don't have to stick with that group. You can give them up, selecting a NEW combination from the table, and start re-plowing through the opponent that just plowed you. (Or, you can conquer a different part of the map.) This keeps the game feeling fresh. REPLAYABILITY As I mentioned in the premise, the various combinations of groups, combined with a blank group card and a blank special power card, give this game a high amount of replay factor. It's also a GREAT game for 2 players. You can even control two different groups each and play on the four-player board, as I've done, for a different, more challenging, and zanier experience. STRATEGY LEVEL This is a low-to-medium-weight game. It has strategy along the lines of games like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride. Those looking for a good family game with more strategy than average (almost no dice-rolling!) will love Small World. If you're looking for map conquering, this has got it. If you're looking for a long-term strategic, deeply contemplative game with lots of planning, seeing a visionary strategy through to completion, this is not your game. However, I am a lover of the Puerto Rico-type deep strategy game, and I absolutely love Small World to play as a "break" game in between long strategic sessions. It has enough strategy to appease my appetite for that kind of game, but is fun and lighthearted enough that I don't have to think too hard about what I'm doing. TIME COMMITMENT You can vary the amount of rounds that you play, using house rules, if you want. If you play the full game, it will take 45-60 minutes for a 2-player game. The first game takes a bit of getting used to, what with the rules and the specific special abilities of every type of group, but the mechanics are easy enough to pick up, and after one tutorial game, you should feel confident. Setup takes a few minutes, and there are many small pieces, so make sure you account for that. OVERALL I play it 2-player with my girlfriend all the time, and we love making up various house rules as well as playing it according to the rulebook. I've also played it multi-player, and it's even more zany and fun. A good addition to any game shelf. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the best competitive Euro-strategy/war games I've played yet! *by C***T on November 5, 2013* Just adding another positive review here. We play a LOT of Euro (mainly German) board games, and this is a fantastic addition to our gaming library. Smallworld seems a little silly looking, judging by the box, but I assure you, this is a smart and fun game for fans of Euro board games. I wouldn't recommend this as the first Euro game to try (Carcassonne and Samurai are worthy starter games in the Euro realm), but it's a great game that has multiple layers of complexity and strategy. Most of all, it's fun! And HIGHLY competitive. 2-5 players 30-80 minutes (not sure what the box says, but my partner and I can play a round in 1/2 hour) Ages 10+ ** I know the Amazon description says 10-14, but that is not what the manufacturer states on the box (which is 10+) ** Some folks compare this to Risk, but I would say this is to Risk as a bicycle is to a Ducati. In a nutshell, you and your friends take turns conquering territory and reassigning your units. So it DOES sound like Risk! But wait! You don't have a singe army or race, instead you shuffle several races, and bonuses and place 5 on the board. Players pick from these 5, paying Victory points to select further down the five (first one is free). Once the player chooses, another is drawn and placed while the others move up to fill the gap. What this means is that each time playing, players will have different races with different stats, and different bonuses. So you might end up with Elves with the Berserk bonus, or Ghouls with Seafaring bonus (seafaring ghouls lol!). There are tons of combinations, and each has ups and downs. There are four maps on two sided heavy cardboard fold outs: one each for 2, 3, 4, and 5 player games. This makes it easier to get competitive and combative instead of trying to have two players duke it out on a huge 5 player board! Setting up the map is easy once players get the hang of it. On the first turn players start by invading the land from the edge of the board, unless they are seafaring, then they can invade water to start. Once you start invading, you end your turn (with an option to roll the reinforcement die on your last attack) and then redistribute your armies. You have to leave at least ONE unit on a territory during your attack phase or you can't redistribute on it. Each territory you have gives you Victory points. So you REALLY want to control more territory at the end of your turn. This also means you REALLY want your opponent to control less. The other twist comes from balancing your civilizations. You can elect to allow a civilization to go into decline, thereby gaining the chance to start a new civilization on your next turn. You gain points for your declining civilization, but unless stated otherwise (such as ghouls), these declining civs have no more actions and can only hold a spot on a territory until beaten off. Since you only have a finite number of units to use, once you start losing units (from being attacked), you find you are spread too thin and MUST start a new civilization to keep gaining VPs. So a KEY part of strategy is deciding when to lose a turn to allow your current civilization to go into decline. Each player keeps their VPs hidden, so at the end everyone tallies and it's always a bit of a surprise. I've found a few times I thought I was surely losing and that I won handily. Other times the opposite has been true. Regardless, this is a fantastic, fun, and innovative game. Highly recommended!!!! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by R***S on June 17, 2021* Really like the game. Fun to play with friends. All the pieces arrived intact and neatly packed. Nothing to complain about ## Frequently Bought Together - Small World Board Game - Fantasy Area Control & Strategy Game with Magical Creatures, Special Powers! Family Game for Kids & Adults, Ages 8+, 2-5 Players, 40-80 Min Playtime, Made by Days of Wonder - CMYK Wavelength: The Party Game Show in a Box - Anomia Card Game - Best Party, Super Fun Game for Families, Teens, and Adults --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2579551-small-world-board-game-fantasy-area-control-and-strategy-game](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2579551-small-world-board-game-fantasy-area-control-and-strategy-game) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*