Iliad
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Game info
Design & Art
Lingua & Editore
Pairs well with
Achilles or Hector? The Trojan War was fought by two... but only one will enter into myth.
In Iliad , two minds clash like two legendary heroes. It's not luck that's needed, but strategy. Every move is a declaration of war, every tile placed a step toward the favor of the gods. The field is narrow, but the possibilities are endless. And as points accumulate, true victory is decided in the hearts of the gods .
This abstract board game for two players by Reiner Knizia is a tense, elegant, and ruthless duel. Choose which tile to play, where to place it, when to activate power, and on which side to fight. Brute force isn't enough: you need timing, intuition, and control of the field. And when a row or column is filled, tokens decide who advances to legend... and who remains just a forgotten name.
Why Iliad is a mental battle worthy of Olympus
- ⚔️ Pure strategy for two : every turn counts, every mistake is paid for
- 🧠 Perfect symmetry, asymmetric choices : both players have the same tiles… but used in opposite ways
- 🎭 Unique Powers and Special Tiles : The Dolos tile is a secret weapon that can turn everything around
- 🏛️ Divine favors or victory points?: every completed row is a crucial tactical choice.
- ⏱️ 30 minutes of cerebral intensity : compact but full of tension
If you're looking for a deep yet accessible, abstract board game for two players, Iliad is a tabletop duel that sets games in stone . The winner is the one who earns the favor of the gods. But also the one who knows when to deviate from glory... to achieve victory.
War is eternal. But every legend begins with a single move.
Iliad
Product Details
🐸 HOW TO PLAY
1. Choose between Achilles or Hector and draw symmetrical tiles
Each player plays one of the heroes with an identical deck of tiles valued 1 to 5, plus a "Dolos" tile that mimics your opponent's value. The tiles represent mythical units with special abilities.
2. You place a tile next to an opponent's
In turns, you place a tile from your hand on a shared grid, adjacent to an opponent's tile: this creates lines to compete for, activates abilities and controls the battlefield.
3. Activate strategic tile abilities
Some tiles grant you power when placed: you can steal tiles, rearrange the board, or influence routes. Using them at the right time can mean the difference between glory and defeat.
4. Claim "Success Tokens" by winning lines
When a line is complete (horizontal or vertical), whoever has the highest total wins that side and chooses one of the available victory tokens, each with a different value. Placement becomes a tactical contest.
5. Whoever collects the most glory (tokens) at the end of the game wins.
The game ends when all the success tokens are used up. The number of tokens collected is counted: whoever has the most (and best) wins and becomes the most praised by the gods!
REGULATION ENG
Download the Regulations Here
Iliad
An epic duel in 30 minutes: abstract, elegant, ferocious.
Reiner Knizia's 2-player strategy game inspired by the Iliad
Iliad – Achilles versus Hector, but on an abstract board
Achilles and Hector face each other once again, but this time on the playing field. Iliad is a two-man challenge of tension, skill, and tactical clashes where every pawn is a declaration of war.
Harness the strength of your heroes , deceive your opponent with Dolos, and win the favor of the Gods: but beware, successes can also hide traps. Game after game, a new legend is written.
Iliad – The 2-player board game where every move is pure mythology
Iliad is an abstract board game for two players , featuring tile placement and hand management mechanics. Created by Reiner Knizia , it offers a symmetrical yet unpredictable challenge: you choose a tile, place it next to an enemy, and activate its ability (if applicable).
Completed lines determine who earns victory tokens, some of which bring favor from the Gods, others points… or even penalties.
To win, it's not enough to score points: you have to earn the favor of all five deities. Strategy, opportunism, and bluffing blend together in a fast-paced yet deep strategic game , perfect for lovers of abstract games and mental duels.
We played it, and it hit us right in the heart 🐸
Iliad is a gem for those who love two-player board games with constant tension and surgical decisions. Every turn left us anxious about who would place the best cards, who would conquer that line, who would control destiny.
The Dolos mechanics are brilliant, and the divine favor system adds a twist that forces you to plan ahead. Reiner Knizia strikes again with an elegant, mythological, and deadly gem.
Other abstract and original 2-player board games:
⚔️ Shikoku 1889 – Strategic Railways in Japan with Stocks and Bonds
🎴 Sail – Two-player co-op with battles against the Kraken
🏛️ Ruins – Combine transparent cards to create unique combos and dig up treasures
🐞 Kabuto Sumo – Sumo wrestling between insects balancing on a platform
💥 Kabuto Sumo: Sakura Slam – Square Arena and Spring Barrels for Legendary Beetles
I giochi da tavolo non servono a passare il tempo. Servono a viverlo meglio. – La Rana Saggia
Ogni regola è un’opportunità nascosta. Scoprila con occhi nuovi. – Il Girino Curioso
Non so come ho vinto. Ma è stato divertentissimo. Rigioca, se hai il coraggio. – La Ranarock Ribelle
Una buona mossa è silenziosa. La vittoria, inevitabile. – Ranaldo Stratega
Non serve vincere per giocare bene. Serve giocare per stare bene. – Zio Rospo Zen
I giochi da tavolo non servono a passare il tempo. Servono a viverlo meglio. – La Rana Saggia
Ogni regola è un’opportunità nascosta. Scoprila con occhi nuovi. – Il Girino Curioso
Non so come ho vinto. Ma è stato divertentissimo. Rigioca, se hai il coraggio. – La Ranarock Ribelle
Una buona mossa è silenziosa. La vittoria, inevitabile. – Ranaldo Stratega
Non serve vincere per giocare bene. Serve giocare per stare bene. – Zio Rospo Zen
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