
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,425
- BGG rating
- 7.8
HEXplore It: The Forests of Adrimon
- 1–7 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2019

Expansion for HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax
2020
Rules assistance for HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax is an expansion for HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax released in 2020 for 2–6 players, 60–180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jonathan Mariucci and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling.
The Sands of Shurax Expansion allows you to play as the Villian (aka. The Ravager) against the other heroes. Like the heroes, the Villian is able To raise it’s ranks by performing Ambitions. Choose how to ruin the map, with an entire Villian card deck. The Villian will have access to powerful Rituals, which can be performed by expending Ritual Points. The Villian will be forced to react to the heroes, and better yet, force the heroes to react to the Villian. There are several ways to play as the Ravager, which no two games facing off against the heroes will be the same. Four new bosses appear in the expansion, with each boss having a unique reveal trigger. Additional traits give your hero a distinguishing quality gained at the beginning of the game. More HEXclusive Roles and Races are offered. Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the Sands of Shurax expansion is the inclusion of the Black Pyramid, HEXplore very first maze. The Black Pyramid is it’s own play-style. You can go through the entire game, gathering power, facing new threats, terrifying versions of the Bosses, and perhaps most importantly, uncover epic new gear! The Black Pyramid is laden with traps and secret chambers, so beware adventurers!
HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax supports 2–6 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 HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax is 60–180 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 HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax 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.
HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax has a complexity rating of 4.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Dice, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, 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 HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax are: Jonathan Mariucci. 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 HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax – Return to the Sands of Shurax as an expansion for HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax to use it. Check that your edition of HEXplore It: The Sands of Shurax is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.