I've really enjoyed Small World, but the fantasy theme leaves me flat. I think I'd prefer the more 'historical' nature of Vinci.

Having never played Vinci, how does it stack up with SW? Does it work with 2 players?

Thanks!

I found it to be more or less the same experience although Small World vastly improves on some of the more disappointing aspects of Vinci. The Vinci board is ideally set up for five players and the downtime is near-suicidal with that many people dithering over their turns, with less players the additional room reduces direct conflict and makes it all a bit ho-hum. Plus the game just goes on and on and on as you race around the VP track bashing the leader. Personally I find Small World the more playable game (so long as everybody can take their turns reasonably quickly) although I prefer the historical theme in Vinci - eventually this theme doesn't come through too well though and you end up realising that all you are doing is pushing wooden discs around the board. You could probably transfer the Small World rules into Vinci or take the Vinci counters and use them with the Small World boards. It's not something I want to play much but if it comes out on a club night then ultimately I prefer Small World as it's quicker and less not-fun (I can't bring myself to say "more fun") than Vinci.

In most cases, VInci and Small World are identical. And in Vinci, the theme really isn't all that strong--the game is very abstract.

If you want theme, pick up Brief History of the World.

As to gaming with 2...neither Vinci nor HoTW support 2 very well. Small World has the sized board for two that make the concept work---the other games are just too empty.