- BGG rating
- 7.7
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Atlas Expansion
- 2–6 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #821
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Mare Nostrum: Empires
2016
Rules assistance for Mare Nostrum: Empires
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Mare Nostrum: Empires
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mare Nostrum: Empires is a board game released in 2016 for 3–5 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Serge Laget and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Trading.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Heroes of the Bible
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2016
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Mare Nostrum: Empires Kickstarter Exclusives
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 2016
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Mythical Beasts Expansion Tiles
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2016
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Epic Scenario
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Starting Heroes
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2017
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About the game
The ancient Romans called the Mediterranean Sea "mare nostrum", which is Latin for "our sea". Mare Nostrum is an empire-building game in which 3-5 players [or 2-6 with the 'Atlas' expansion] lead their individual ancient empires to dominion of Mare Nostrum. You grow the fame and glory of your empire by expanding your influence into new Provinces, then extending your Trade Caravans, building Markets, and founding new Cities and Temples. You can recruit Heroes and create Wonders to help your cause. But beware of your "friends" because they may look upon your gains with envy and greed... Mare Nostrum is a re-introduction by Academy Games and Asyncron of the original 2003 release with updated rules, counters, and map board. This edition includes many new components and multiple new ways to win! In more detail, you choose an empire to lead, which begins with three Provinces. You can lead with Caesar of Rome and its powerful Legions, or with Pericles, the prominent Greek statesman and orator, with the great Babylonian lawgiver and healer King Hammurabi, or with Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, whose engineers led in the development of grain storage and irrigation, or with Hannibal, leader of the Carthaginians, whose merchants thrived on trade and commerce. Now you decide how you will grow your empire. You can do this by: Expanding your Trade and creating Wonders. Concentrating on Culture and building the great Pyramids. Developing a strong and powerful Military to occupy the Provinces of other empires, or Exerting Political Leadership by claiming the titles of Trade Leader, Cultural Leader, and Military Leader.
Designers
Publishers
- Ediciones MasQueOca
- ASYNCRON games
- Giochix.it
- Schwerkraft-Verlag
- PHALANX
- IGAMES
- Academy Games, Inc.
Questions and answers
Mare Nostrum: Empires 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 Mare Nostrum: Empires is 90–120 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 Mare Nostrum: Empires 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.
Mare Nostrum: Empires has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Mare Nostrum: Empires belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Trading. 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 Mare Nostrum: Empires are: Serge Laget. 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 Mare Nostrum: Empires 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.