- BGG rank
- BGG #3,655
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects: Deluxe Edition
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,505
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
2006
Rules assistance for Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects is a board game released in 2006 for 3–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Auction / Bidding.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #273
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Cyclades
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #569
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Cyclades: Legendary Edition
- 2–6 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,932
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Senji
- 3–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,686
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Madame Ching
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,233
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Dice Town
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,935
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Noah
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #452
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Abyss
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,194
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Scarabya
- 1–4 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,987
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Sobek
- 2–4 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,697
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Frosted Blooms
- 1–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #793
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Conan
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2016
About the game
Designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, Cleopatra and the Society of Architects is a fun and engaging family game that includes a true, three-dimensional palace that players compete to build. Players strive to become the wealthiest of Cleopatra’s architects by constructing the most magnificent and valuable parts of her palace. Players, however, will be tempted to deal with shady characters and trade in materials of dubious origins in order to help them build faster. While these corrupt practices might allow an architect to stay a step ahead of the rest, they come with a high price – cursed Corruption Amulets honoring Sobek, the Crocodile-god. When Cleopatra finally strolls into her new palace, at the end of the game, the most corrupt architect (the one with the most amulets) will be seized and offered as a sacrifice to her sacred crocodile! Only then will the wealthiest architect, from among those still alive, be selected and declared the winner of the game. “The component design in Cleopatra is the most innovative we’ve undertaken to date,” said Days of Wonder CEO, Eric Hautemont. “While it’s still a board game, the dozens of 3D pieces – Column walls, Doorframes, Obelisks, Sphinxes, and Palace Throne – all create the sense that you’re constructing a royal palace.” “The game play really forces players into continually weighing the risks and rewards between taking enough corruption to enhance your position in the game, but not so much that you are forced out of the game at the end,” said the game’s co-designer, Bruno Cathala. “It’s a classic ‘push your luck’ dilemma that continually raises the tension level higher and higher until the game reaches its climax.” Description from the publisher.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Edge Entertainment
- uplay.it edizioni
- Days of Wonder
- KDS Distribuzione (Italy)
Questions and answers
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects supports 3–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cleopatra and the Society of Architects is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cleopatra and the Society of Architects for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects belongs to these categories: Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Auction / Bidding. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cleopatra and the Society of Architects are: Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cleopatra and the Society of Architects as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.