
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,258
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Cysmic
- 1–6 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2026

2021
Rules assistance for Kleos
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kleos is a board game released in 2021 for 1–5 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jim Kavanaugh and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling.
Equally feared and worshipped by mortals, monsters, and spirits alike, the Olympian Gods sit upon Mount Olympus and watch the world go by. That is, until word of the founding of a new city reaches their ears. Kleos, a city said to rival and eventually surpass even Troy and Athens. Zeus has declared a week-long contest among the gods to decide who shall be the patron god of this city-state. So call forth your champion, ready your armies, and use every divine power you possess to win at all costs. And remember, the gods do not play fair! Kleos is a lightly asymmetrical game of strategic combat and area control. It combines hex-based combat with your favorite card game elements for a dynamic experience. Join the contest as one of five Greek Olympian Gods - Ares, Artemis, Hermes, Athena, or Dionysus - each with their own unique champion and divine deck. Kleos features tactical card-play and action management. Play powerful blessings and curses to gain advantage. Summon Minions onto the board or use them as upgrades, serving as mounts or offerings to bolster their allies. Command your forces during the action phase. Manage Minion actions for combat, area control, and tactical advantage. Send your Minions to the Greek Isles to recruit epic heroes and monsters of legend, such as Medusa, Perseus, and Pegasus. Organize your forces wisely. Positioning is key to victory! Take the role of a Greek Olympian God, summon your champion, and compete for glory in the eyes of Zeus to be named the patron god of the rising Greek city-state, Kleos! —description from the designer
Kleos 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 Kleos is 60–120 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 Kleos 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.
Kleos has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Kleos belongs to these categories: Dice, Miniatures, and Mythology. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, 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 Kleos are: Jim Kavanaugh. 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 Kleos 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.