
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,847
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Napoleon
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1975

1973
Rules assistance for Xerxes
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.
Xerxes is a board game released in 1973 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kurt Heuser and its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment.
Chinese Checkers with a fun twist. Named after Persian king Xerxes, two players deploy 24 figures each on a 15x19 board. Either in one of three suggested starting formations, or (advanced) in secret. Pawns are either moved one space (diagonally as well), or can repeatedly jump over one unit. Jumped enemy units are removed. Once the lines break open, a single move can create havoc among the opponent! The goal is to occupy a specified point (the enemy's camp) behind his lines. On the back of the game board (exept the last,third edition) you can use the same components to play Frundsberg where playing pieces can be placed anywhere on your side of the board behind a screen.
Xerxes supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Xerxes is 30 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 Xerxes 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.
Xerxes has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Xerxes belongs to these categories: Fighting, Abstract Strategy, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment. 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 Xerxes are: Kurt Heuser. 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 Xerxes 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.