88

Dominion is a deck-building card game where players start with identical small decks and compete to acquire the most victory points by strategically purchasing cards to build their decks. It was the first deck-building game and established the genre.

88

The Verdict

based on 35 reviews

Positive 0%
Groundbreaking deck-building mechanic that is easy to learn.
High replayability due to the variable setup of Kingdom cards in each game.
Offers significant strategic and tactical depth despite its simple rules.
Quick and accessible gameplay, with games often lasting around 30 minutes.
Low level of direct player interaction, often described as "multiplayer solitaire".
The theme is considered by many to be weak or disconnected from the gameplay.
The base game can be prone to a dominant "Big Money" strategy without expansions.
The game involves a significant amount of shuffling cards.
100
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
The Thoughtful Gamer, MarcArticle

The reviewer hails Dominion as an unequivocal modern classic that defined the deckbuilding genre, highlighting its elegant design, ease of learning, and exceptional replayability as its core strengths, despite minor criticisms regarding its often-maligned theme and occasional less-than-ideal card setups.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Jeremy Reviews It, JeremyVideo

The reviewer regards Dominion as his personal favorite deck-building game, highlighting its streamlined gameplay, remarkable depth, and enduring appeal that he believes surpasses many other deck-building titles that have followed it.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Cult Cardboard, Dario CamachoArticle

Dominion is awesome. If you feel an inkling of interest from what you just have read, I implore you to check it out, this game can suck you in, and keep you chained to its quick, mindful, intense way of deck building.

95
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
3 Minute Board Games, J Carmichael and S RodgersVideo

The reviewer praises Dominion as the definitive and highly replayable original deck-building game, highlighting its fast-paced gameplay, accessibility for all ages, and strategic depth due to its fixed market, though noting it involves a lot of shuffling.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Zen Of Design, Damion SchubertArticle

Dominion revolutionized the genre by making deckbuilding the core mechanic of the game itself, offering high replayability through a stable and randomized market of card piles.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Shelfside, ShelfsideVideo

This Shelfside review thoroughly examines Dominion 2nd Edition, a physical deck-building board game. It highlights the game's mechanics, discusses updates from the first edition, and presents a detailed analysis of its pros and cons, including personal scores.

90
StatedThis reviewer gave their own score. We only converted it to our 0–100 scale.
Board Game QuestArticle

Dominion is a great game, accessible to your gamer friends and non-gamer friends as well. Its unique game play experience, combined with its short play time and easy to learn rules make it a big win in my book.

90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
Wirecutter (NYT)ArticleTop List

Like the best traditional card games, Dominion is easy to learn and fun to play, but reveals levels of complexity and difficult choices as you move past your first few plays.

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90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
boardgamecloset, Board Game DaveArticleTop List

Dominion is a classic, intuitive, and highly replayable deck-builder, praised for its accessibility and ease of teaching. Despite a thin base game theme and the recommendation for expansions to maintain long-term freshness, it remains an excellent entry point for many.

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90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
BoardGameDave, BoardGameDaveArticleTop List

The video reviews the second edition of the classic deck-building game Dominion, discussing various aspects like components, gameplay, and value, culminating in an overall score. It also notes that Dominion is the reviewer's fifth most-played game.

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90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
BoardGameCo, Alex MacklinArticleTop List

The reviewer highly recommends Dominion, praising it as the enduring "granddad of deck builders" that continues to be an excellent game and holds a spot in his top 100 games of all time.

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90
InferredThis reviewer didn't give a numbered score. We read the review and inferred a 0–100 score from what they said. Did we get it wrong? Please report it, we'll fix it.
The Broken Meeple, Board Game DaveArticleTop List

The Broken Meeple's video presents a ranked list of their top ten games released in 2008. As a multi-game roundup, it is not a specific review of the physical board game Dominion.

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