
- BGG rank
- BGG #336
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Imperium: Classics
- 1–4 players
- 40–160 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2021

Rules assistance for Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire
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.
Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire is an expansion for Imperial Settlers released in 2020 for 1–4 players, 45–90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Joanna Kijanka and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Open Drafting.
Rise of the Empire is a meta-expansion that adds a completely new layer to Imperial Settlers by introducing an open-world campaign setting. From game to game, players' empires will advance, reaching new eras, goals, technologies, discoveries, and provinces. (You don't need to play the campaign in a set group of co-players as each empire can develop at its own pace and represent different stages of advancement.) This meta-expansion includes 220 new cards divided into three types: Provinces, Goals & Achievements, and Technologies & Discoveries. In addition Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire shortens gameplay from five to four rounds. —description from the publisher
Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire supports 1–4 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 Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire is 45–90 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 Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire 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.
Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire belongs to these categories: Card Game, Ancient, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Open Drafting. 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 Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire are: Joanna Kijanka. 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 Imperial Settlers: Rise of the Empire as an expansion for Imperial Settlers. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Imperial Settlers to use it. Check that your edition of Imperial Settlers is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.