- BGG rating
- 6.3
Palio Espansione
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,547
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Palio
2008
Rules assistance for Palio
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Palio
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Palio is a board game released in 2008 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Massimo Pesce and its main mechanics are Race, Roll / Spin and Move, and Track Movement.
Expansions
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About the game
Description by Andrea “Liga” Ligabue & W. Eric Martin The Palio di Siena (known in Italy as Il Palio) is a crazy horse race that takes place twice a year in Siena on July 2 and August 16. Ten of the 17 Contrade (or city wards) are represented in the race: the seven that were left out of the previous race and a randomly chosen three from the remaining ten Contrade. Each Contrade has particular colors and coats of arms, and the horse and rider are dressed to embody their Contrade. Riders can use their whips on other horses and riders as well as on their own mount, and the winner is the first horse to cross the finish line with its head ornaments in place – whether or not the rider is still on the horse. New Italian game designer Massimo Pesce, together with the help of Scribabs’ Paolo Vallerga as art director, has produced a nice and simple game about this race. The players control the seventeen Contrade involved in the two races, with ten Contrade taking part in the first race (Palio di Provenzano) and a different set of ten in the second one (Palio dell’Assunta). This set-up means that one or more players might hold Contrade involved with only one race. Each Contrade is assigned a horse ("la tratta") that can be either a good one ("bono," with a movement die of 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6) or a not-so-good one ("brenna," with movement of 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6). Since the race lasts for three laps, that small difference can add up over time. In addition to the decorative jockey, players receive nine cards that can be used during the race to create small advantages or slow down opponents. As for the race itself, like the real Palio, the beginning is somewhat chaotic as horses and riders jockey for position. During the movement phase, if a horse can’t move its entire distance, it risks falling or perhaps just throwing the rider, which doesn’t prevent a horse from winning. The game is all about playing the right cards at the right moment and getting the right rolls. Palio is simple and quick, the materials are good, and the graphics is great !
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- (Self-Published)
Questions and answers
Palio supports 2–6 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 Palio is 30 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 Palio for ages 8 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.
Palio has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Palio belongs to these categories: Racing. Its main mechanics are Race, Roll / Spin and Move, and Track Movement. 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 Palio are: Massimo Pesce. 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 Palio 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.