
- BGG rank
- BGG #72
- BGG rating
- 8.0
The White Castle
- 1–4 players
- 80 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2023

Rules assistance for Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak is an expansion for Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun released in 2020 for 1–4 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Dávid Turczi and Daniele Tascini and its main mechanics are Income, Variable Set-up, and Pattern Building.
Foundations of Karnak is a mini-expansion which adds 3 new Pillar tiles to Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun. Setup: Add these tiles to those from the base game. Description: P28 (Cost: 2 Limestone, 1 Granite, 1 Gold) Ability: Perform a Bastet God Action to increase the Happiness of your populace as if you had taken a die with value 3. Special: This ability always activates when built, but its use is optional as with all pillar abilities. Note: You must still pay the cost of the action as normal. P29 (Cost: 3 Limestone) Ability: None Special: The tile features all four edge colors, making it easier for you to score Victory Points when built. P30 (Cost: 3 Limestone) Ability: None Special: The tile features all four edge colors, making it easier for you to score Victory Points when built. Originally available as part of the Builders Promo Pack from Dice Tower 2020 Kickstarter campaign. —description from the publisher
Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak 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 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak is 60–120 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 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak 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.
Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak belongs to these categories: Ancient and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Income, Variable Set-up, 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 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak are: Dávid Turczi and Daniele Tascini. 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 Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun – Foundations of Karnak as an expansion for Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun to use it. Check that your edition of Tekhenu: Obelisk of the Sun is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.