I know that there is a surfeit of reviews already on Dominion, but this game has really made an impression on me and others I play with, so here’s my two bits worth of opinion. Others have very nicely summarized the mechanics of Dominion and have provided pictures showing the components. I’ll skip those parts then and tell you instead why this game is a good one. I’ve had amazing success with getting this game on the table; people just like to play it. Here’s some of my thoughts on why. Beware! - this is not a description of the game but my opinions about the game.

Some observations...

1. Dominion is accessible.

The rules for Dominion are easy to learn and explain; we aren’t talking about rocket science here. The rules can be explained in just a few minutes, which means that this game will more easily get on the table. By the time you’ve gone through a few rounds of the first game, everyone will understand how it works. Since acquiring this game I have taught it to seven people (compared to Agricola, which I have taught to only four people, even though I have owned the game much longer). Of the top ten games in the BGG ranking, Dominion is, in my opinion, the most accessible and easy to learn. Yet it is by no means simplistic.

2. Dominion is quick.

A game of Dominion does not take long to play. After learning the rules, the players can be rewarded immediately with more than one play. The number of plays means that multiple strategies can be tried. If your strategy bombs, it isn’t a big deal. You learned something, and you play again right away. This speeds up the learning curve. It is not unreasonable to expect to play three or four games in an evening and still have time for something else (even if your opponents are playing for the first time).

3. Dominion has high replayability.

Sure, it plays quick, but no matter, since I always feel like starting another round. Every game only uses ten of the twenty-five different action card types. After experimenting with the recommended starting ten, it is enormous fun to select a new ten at random. Someone with a better knowledge of statistics than I have will tell you that there are a lot of different combinations to play with. Each game is different because of the combinations of cards. Even playing with the same cards, there are different things to try. I won’t quickly tire of playing this game. Neither do others. I have yet to sit down to play only one game of Dominion; it always ends up being three or four games.

4. Dominion is deep.

I think of this game as having several layers. The various layers give the game some staying power. They also allow players to ease their way into the game in stages. I have really enjoyed learning this game and have also enjoyed watching others learning this game. Here are the layers I have discovered so far...

First layer: players learn the rules and start playing with a few cards just to see how they work.

Second layer: players become familiar with the various cards and their mechanics. They develop preferences for certain cards and begin to have a strategy in mind.

Third layer: players experiment with certain combinations of cards. (The Smithy is better if you can play a Village first. Or the Remodel will let you turn a Gold Treasure directly into a Province. Etc).

Fourth layer: players now start to think about making their deck efficient. (Buying too many action cards doesn’t work. Buying victory points too early clogs up your deck; waiting too long for VP’s is dangerous too. Buying treasure is good, but a few actions will help grease the wheels.)

Fifth layer: players finally start to think of their deck in relation to what others are building. It isn’t good enough to build well; you have build faster than the other player. If possible, you want to throw some sand in his gears.

It took me one play to get past layer one, then another couple to get past layer two. The third layer is a lot of fun, as you experience ‘eureka!’ moments by trying card combos yourself or by watching (and stealing) the ideas that others stumble across. After 25 plays I have found some interesting combos, but by no means have I exhausted the possibilities. So, I would say I’m still in layer three (and probably will be for a while). The fourth layer is something I’ve just begun thinking about, and the fifth layer I haven’t really even touched yet, other than experimenting with the Militia and some of the other attack cards. Despite the easy rule set, this game has quite a bit of depth. It helps that there are so many different combos of cards, since each situation requires a different approach. A card that may be hot in one group may be a dud in another.

5. Dominion scales well.

This game is just as fun with two players as it is with three or four. My wife loves this game (so far she has won 5 games to my 3!).

Result: People like to play Dominion!!

Some examples:

a. I have taught this game to two people with little or no gaming experience (newbies). They caught on right away and enjoyed the game immensely. They both discovered interesting combos of cards that I had not thought of previously.

b. I brought this game to a games night with some friends. The ladies played Thebes, and the guys played Dominion. In no time we were all engaged in the game. We played four rounds, and afterwards the guys were already arranging when we could play again in the next two weeks. They were hooked instantly.

c. A friend of mine visited recently from out of province. He picked up Agricola while he was here, which I had ordered for him. We played Agricola, but we also played seven games of Dominion. It was Dominion that he was talking about when he left. He was sorely tempted to grab a copy for himself (even though he is a poor student - this was really an indication how much he liked the game). I’m not saying that Dominion is a better game than Agricola (which I also think is a great game, by the way), but Dominion certainly has the advantage over Agricola of being easier to play right out of the box.

d. My wife asks me for games of Dominion!!! Another friend of mine who owns the game has had the same experience with Dominion in his family.

Conclusion.

Dominion is one of my most successful game purchases ever. Success in this case is measured in (1) ease of getting others to play, and (2) level of fun and stimulation. Dominion has exploded out of my game closet like Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes. It is (1) easy to learn/teach, (2) plays well over and over again, (3) has multiple ways to win, (4) scales well and (5) has layer upon layer of depth. I highly recommend this game, and I’m convinced that you will not have trouble finding people to play it.