
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,120
- BGG rating
- 6.6
IUNU
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2013

2013
Rules assistance for They Who Were 8
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.
They Who Were 8 is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 15–20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Todd Sanders and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Push Your Luck.
Gods and Goddesses are mercurial beings, given to jealousy and treachery, but they can also possess compassion and valor. Who among the pantheon can win enough glory among their believers, so that their story of mythic victory can be passed down through the generations? They Who Were 8 is a game for 2-4 players where each player serves two Gods, seeking to praise them for their Glory, and trying to avoid stories of their Infamy. The game can be played in two different ways: • Titanomachy: A game for 2-4 players trying to achieve an individual victory. • Pantheon: A partnership game for 4 players, played in two teams of 2. In both of these games, the players take actions that represent a bard’s retelling of the ancient story of They Who Were 8. They may also call upon the powers of their Gods to control the narrative and establish their version of the saga as the one told for eternity. Note: They Who Were 8 was inspired by a cycle of poems by Todd Sanders written in 1999. The poems are fragments of a larger ancient saga, lost to time.
They Who Were 8 supports 2–4 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 They Who Were 8 is 15–20 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 They Who Were 8 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.
They Who Were 8 has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
They Who Were 8 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Push Your Luck. 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 They Who Were 8 are: Todd Sanders. 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 They Who Were 8 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.