- BGG rank
- BGG #16,944
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Papua
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,651
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Oh, Pharaoh!
2004
Rules assistance for Oh, Pharaoh!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Oh, Pharaoh!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Oh, Pharaoh! is a board game released in 2004 for 2–4 players, 40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Thilo Hutzler and its main mechanics are Take That, Trading, and Pattern Building.
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About the game
From the publisher: On behalf of the all-powerful pharaoh, the best architects of their time are building pyramids as burial grounds for the divine king. However, a battle between the master builders erupts: who constructs the biggest, most beautiful and magnificent pyramids? Envy and conspiracy are the order of the day and thus the architects make life difficult for each other. Each player tries to erect as many high-quality pyramids as possible. The player whose turn it is receives a new building card. He then can swap cards with the other players. He or she may then lay down cards to a pyramid or continue building at a pyramid already in progress. A pyramid is created when it consists of at least two rows of cards on top of each other. Each row consists of building cards with the same number. The row on top always has fewer cards than the ones below. The result is a continuous row of numbers from top to bottom. When it's their turn, players have to decide if they want to have their pyramids evaluated. The cards will then be taken away and the number of points marked down. Apart from the building cards, there are "thieves" with whom one can steal cards out of other player's pyramids, "tax collectors" who steal hand held cards and the "pharaoh" who can prevent these actions from taking place!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- KOSMOS
- 999 Games
- Kanga Games
- Überplay
- SimplyFun
Questions and answers
Oh, Pharaoh! supports 2–4 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 Oh, Pharaoh! is 40 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 Oh, Pharaoh! 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.
Oh, Pharaoh! has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Oh, Pharaoh! belongs to these categories: Card Game and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Take That, Trading, and Pattern Building. 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 Oh, Pharaoh! are: Thilo Hutzler. 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 Oh, Pharaoh! 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.