- BGG rating
- 6.7
Rhodes: The Colossus
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,204
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Rhodes
2016
Rules assistance for Rhodes
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Rhodes
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rhodes is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Pieter Boots and its main mechanics are Variable Phase Order and Worker Placement.
Expansions
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About the game
292 BC, the Colossus symbolizes the wealth of the Greek island Rhodes. Egyptian ships arrive in the harbor with gold. Greek farmers produce goods on their lands. To expand and develop, they need income, so they set sail to the harbor with goods from their lands. It is uncertain what the earnings for the olives, grapes, grain and goat milk will be this time... Rhodes is a (light) expert game with high interaction, several tactical & strategic options, and a unique dynamic market system triggered by ships sailing into the harbor, which automatically adjusts the prices for the goods offered at the harbor. The players collectively have control in this. Will you sell your goods, or will your fresh products end up in your storage to be used in future rounds? Smart merchants profit from opportunities in the market — but this also creates new opportunities for the farmers who receive income when other players buy their goods. Interaction in markets, production, and player sequence providing interesting dilemmas for the players. Some farmers expand their lands with the earnings. Others develop smart skills to bypass the markets or to get victory points in different ways. It is also possible to create a monopoly or at least a scarcity of goods. Indeed this game has some very interesting market elements, but players who follow a one-sided strategy have little chance of being victorious.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- SD Games
- The Game Master BV
Questions and answers
Rhodes 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 Rhodes is 60–90 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 Rhodes 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.
Rhodes has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Rhodes belongs to these categories: Economic, Nautical, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Variable Phase Order and Worker Placement. 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 Rhodes are: Pieter Boots. 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 Rhodes 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.