- BGG rank
- BGG #23
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
- 2–6 players
- 60–200 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Rules assistance for Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–9 players
- 120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.7/5
Rules assistant for Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients is an expansion for Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy released in 2012 for 2–9 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Touko Tahkokallio and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
While the galactic conflict escalates and several new factions are trying to get a foothold on the galaxy, the adversaries suddenly need to find allies among themselves to face the rising threat. The systems previously thought to be empty are suddenly swarming with Ancients – whole worlds of them, with ship capabilities way beyond anything seen before. They are not willing to negotiate. Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients, the first full-size expansion for Eclipse, introduces several new additions to the base game, such as Rare Technologies, Developments, Alliances, Ancient Homeworlds and Warp Portals. There are also three new player boards with four new different alien species to choose from. New components allow up to nine players in one session. Due to the modular design, you can use all of these additions or just some of them in any game of Eclipse, according to your preferences and play style. The Ancients are rising. Will your civilization rise to the occasion and emerge victorious?
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Lautapelit.fi
- Asterion Press
- Ystari Games
Questions and answers
Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients supports 2–9 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 Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients is 120 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 Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients for ages 14 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.
Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients belongs to these categories: Fighting, Science Fiction, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling. 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 Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients are: Touko Tahkokallio. 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 Eclipse: Rise of the Ancients as an expansion for Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy to use it. Check that your edition of Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.