
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Poseidon: The Gods
- 2–5 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2011

2010
Rules assistance for Poseidon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Poseidon is a board game released in 2010 for 2–5 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley and its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Commodity Speculation, and Stock Holding.
Two to five players act as leaders of different peoples and command them to explore, send out fleets, build trading posts, and generate the highest possible profit. Poseidon contains most of the basics of 18xx games and due to the relatively short running time of two hours is as suitable for 18xx-newbies who want to explore this wonderful world as it is for experienced train gamers. The 18xx basics included are: 1) Instead of running a corporation, players control a country/people 2) The goal of the game is personal wealth, the wealthiest player at game end is the winner 3) Players create trade routes similar to railway lines in 18xx games 4) Trains are replaced with common modes of transportation at the time (i.e. ships) with varying types 5) 18xx type stations are replaced with trading posts Game Contents: game board, eight "possession sheets", play money, lots of wood pieces, cards, 1 rule book
Poseidon supports 2–5 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 Poseidon 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 Poseidon for ages 12 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.
Poseidon has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Poseidon belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Commodity Speculation, and Stock Holding. 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 Poseidon are: Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler and Helmut Ohley. 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 Poseidon 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.