- BGG rank
- BGG #9,887
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Ancients
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,154
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Imperator
1992
Rules assistance for Imperator
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–5 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Imperator
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Imperator is a board game released in 1992 for 1–5 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by William L. Banks and its main mechanics are Area Movement and Dice Rolling.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,700
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Ancients I
- 1–2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,153
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Ancients II
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1992
%2Fpic2091814.jpg@webp)
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,726
- BGG rating
- 6.7
War of the Worlds
- 1–2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,779
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Ancients: Thapsos & Alexandria
- 2 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1994
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,957
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Barbarian, Kingdom & Empire
- 1–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,421
- BGG rating
- 5.7
The Big One
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1995
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,740
- BGG rating
- 5.0
2WW
- 2–4 players
- 150 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,711
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Sid Meier's Civilization: The Boardgame
- 2–6 players
- 120–360 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,040
- BGG rating
- 6.6
History & Legends: SICILY
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,413
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Europa Universalis: The Price of Power
- 1–4 players
- 90–300 min
- Complexity 4.7/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,083
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Pendragon: The Fall of Roman Britain
- 1–4 players
- 60–360 min
- Complexity 4.5/5
- 2017
About the game
Players become the emperors/kings of empires/kingdoms of the ancient world. This may appear to be a wargame, but there are numerous roads to victory, as the use of trade and economic advancement is just as likely to prevail, in the end, as territorial expansion and conquest. Imperator includes 15 scenarios set from 1700 BC to 1200 AD. Each is very different and all are playable by between 1 and 5 players, with ingenious rules to take care of the "neutral" powers; those that aren't being played by a real-life player. Very suitable for solitaire play, as well as being interesting for multiple players, you'll even take in a bit of history to boot! The game is played in Seasons, and each season brings its own challenges. Unique features such as pleas for "Divine Intervention" and "Royal Marriages" make the game that little bit different. This game is a reimplementation of King of Kings, replacing the hex-based map with area movement.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
Questions and answers
Imperator supports 1–5 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 Imperator is 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 Imperator 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.
Imperator has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Imperator belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are 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 Imperator are: William L. Banks. 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 Imperator 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.