
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,832
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Asteroid
- 2 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1980

1989
Rules assistance for Temple of the Beastmen
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Temple of the Beastmen is a board game released in 1989 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Frank Chadwick and Lester Smith and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Square Grid, and Modular Board.
A boardgame of 19th-Century Mars, set in the Space 1889 RPG universe, players take the role of one of 10 adventurers leading an expedition into the mines of the sinister Martian King Gnaashriik in an attempt to rescue slaves and gather up loot. Each player's character has a special ability useful throughout the game plus an special way to score extra points (For example, if Sir Colton-Haynes recovers the Ancient Tablets, he scores 10 points instead of the normal 4). The board is made of tiles which are shuffled and placed face-down to form a mine shaft 5 levels deep. Each turn players move through the mines, turning over tiles to create a series of passages and rooms, discovering and fighting off Martian baddies, and grabbing whatever goodies they can find. There is a deck of cards that drives discoveries and can allow characters to find hidden passages, set off a trap, or wander upon an extra nasty combat. The deck is also the endgame timer. Once it is depleted, players rush to the surface to end the game. Expanded by: Space 1889 Adversaries
Temple of the Beastmen 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 Temple of the Beastmen is 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 Temple of the Beastmen 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.
Temple of the Beastmen has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Temple of the Beastmen belongs to these categories: Fighting, Exploration, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Square Grid, and Modular Board. 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 Temple of the Beastmen are: Frank Chadwick and Lester Smith. 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 Temple of the Beastmen 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.