- BGG rank
- BGG #1,954
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Valley of the Kings: Afterlife
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,315
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Valley of the Kings
2014
Rules assistance for Valley of the Kings
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Valley of the Kings
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Valley of the Kings is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Tom Cleaver and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Open Drafting.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,408
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Valley of the Kings: Last Rites
- 1–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #179
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Star Realms
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #345
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Vale of Eternity
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,688
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Karmaka
- 2–4 players
- 25–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,392
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Uchronia
- 2–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #30
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Lost Ruins of Arnak
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,488
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Drillers
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,636
- BGG rating
- 7.2
City of Iron: Second Edition
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,854
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Shadowrift
- 1–6 players
- 45–120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,973
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Xenon Profiteer
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,784
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Guns & Steel
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2015
About the game
When you die, you can take it with you! Take on the role of Egyptian nobles at the time of the pharaohs, preparing for death and burial in the Valley of the Kings. Players want to fill their tombs with food, canopic jars, statues, amulets and other treasures, and to do so they acquire cards that are laid out in the shape of a pyramid; purchase cards at the base of the pyramid, and it "crumbles" to bring cards higher in the pyramid to the base where they can be bought. The pyramid resets each round with new offerings. You score only for cards that you remove from your deck and stash in your tomb, so if you keep using valuable cards for their effects and don't entomb them before the game ends, you could lose out on big points! Whoever collects the most valuable artifacts in her tomb wins.
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- Devir
- Alderac Entertainment Group
- BoardBros
Questions and answers
Valley of the Kings 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 Valley of the Kings is 45 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 Valley of the Kings 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.
Valley of the Kings has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Valley of the Kings belongs to these categories: Card Game, Ancient, and Religious. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Open Drafting. 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 Valley of the Kings are: Tom Cleaver. 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 Valley of the Kings 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.