- BGG rank
- BGG #98
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Five Tribes: The Djinns of Naqala
- 2–4 players
- 40–80 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,160
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Emira
2006
Rules assistance for Emira
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 100 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Emira
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Emira is a board game released in 2006 for 3–5 players, 100 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Paul Van Hove and Liesbeth Vanzeir and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Auction / Bidding.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,851
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Caravans of Ahldarahd
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,492
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Secret Societies
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,108
- BGG rating
- 6.9
The Scepter of Zavandor
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,961
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Aladdin's Dragons
- 3–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2000
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,294
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Basari: Das Kartenspiel
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,789
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Sultan
- 2–5 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,199
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Thieves of Bagdad
- 3–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,234
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Rival Restaurants
- 2–6 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,685
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Peloponnes Card Game
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,953
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Kill The Unicorns
- 3–6 players
- 25–45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,236
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Das Amulett
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2001
About the game
In Emira the players are Arabian Sheiks looking to expand their harem with more princesses. They try to make themselves more attractive to convince as many princesses as possible to come to live in their harem. Each round, another princess with different preferences comes into play and chooses the sheik that she is most attracted to. The game is played in several rounds. The 3 to 5 players have auctions where they bid to perform actions: play event cards, buying spice caravans, palace sections, camels, or improve his appearance and status. After all players have performed an action the princess will chose which sheik she prefers (according to her preferences). Each player has a goal card that defines his goal for the game, for example acquire 4 princesses with three specific skills or 6 princesses. 1st Place 2004 Hippodice Spieleautorenwettbewerb (as Harem).
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Mayfair Games
- Phalanx Games B.V.
Questions and answers
Emira 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 Emira is 100 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 Emira for ages 12 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.
Emira has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Emira belongs to these categories: Economic and Arabian. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, 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 Emira are: Paul Van Hove and Liesbeth Vanzeir. 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 Emira 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.