- BGG rank
- BGG #6,579
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Principato
- 2–4 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,454
- BGG rating
- 3.9
Thermopyles
2013
Rules assistance for Thermopyles
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Thermopyles
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thermopyles is a board game released in 2013 for 1–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Touko Tahkokallio and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Cooperative Game, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven.
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About the game
Thermopyles is a game that Touko Tahkokallio designed especially for the Cardboard & Sun 2013 event in Paros, Greece. In this card-driven cooperative game, the players together guide the courageous but gravely outnumbered Spartan army against a superior force - the invading Persians. The Spartans decide to meet the enemy at the Thermopyles pass and try to withstand their attack there. At their disposal are only 300 brave Spartan soldiers and a number of other Greeks supporting them. Choosing when to put their strongest units into battle is essential, as is knowing when to make a stand and when to consolidate their strength. By playing cards that collectively surpass the strength of the Persian unit that is in front of them at any given point, they defeat it. The players win or lose together, depending on if the Persian army withdraws, or if their last stand fails.
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Questions and answers
Thermopyles 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 Thermopyles is 20 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 Thermopyles 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.
Thermopyles has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Thermopyles belongs to these categories: Dice, Abstract Strategy, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Cooperative Game, and Campaign / Battle Card Driven. 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 Thermopyles are: Touko Tahkokallio. 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 Thermopyles 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.