- BGG rating
- 8.0
Pillars of Heracles: Epic Expansion
- 2–5 players
- 90–150 min
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,835
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Pillars of Heracles
2025
Rules assistance for Pillars of Heracles
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.9/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Pillars of Heracles
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pillars of Heracles is a board game released in 2025 for 1–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Tamás Oláh and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence.
Expansions
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About the game
Join us on an epic journey through the world of Archaic Period Greece, where heroes are born, city-states clash in bitter rivalries, and the gods themselves shape the destiny of mortals. Prepare to immerse yourself in a strategic and immersive board game experience. Will you channel the wisdom of the mighty Olympian gods to lead your city-state to greatness? Or will you rely on cunning tactics and military might to conquer your rivals? In Pillars of Heracles, you will embark on a quest to build and shape your own city-state, compete against formidable adversaries, and navigate the intricacies of ancient Greek society. As you explore the game's intricately designed world, you will encounter iconic figures from Greek history and mythology, engage in trade and diplomacy, and face the challenges and rewards of city-building. Every decision you make will shape the fate of your city-state and determine your path to victory. Against its rich historical and mythological backdrop, the game offers a unique blend of area control, rondel mechanics, and deckbuilding, tableau building, set collection, and resource management. As you expand your city-state and manage your resources, you'll need to strategize your moves on the rondel, carefully planning your actions. Building and managing your deck allows you to customize your strategy and prepare for exciting challenges. The objective of the game is to become the most glorious City-state of them all! You can gain Glory in the game by Controlling Cities and Regions, Building Monuments, and Fulfilling Prophecies. The game ends when players have collectively reached the end of a number of Region tracks equal to the number of players, when a player controls 6 Cities, or when 3 Era III Prophecy cards have been removed from the Game board. The player with the most Glory wins the game!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Grand Gamers Guild
- Apeiron Games
Questions and answers
Pillars of Heracles 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 Pillars of Heracles 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 Pillars of Heracles 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.
Pillars of Heracles has a complexity rating of 3.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Pillars of Heracles belongs to these categories: City Building and Civilization. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Pillars of Heracles are: Tamás Oláh. 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 Pillars of Heracles 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.