The God Kings: Warfare at the Dawn of Civilization, 1500 – 1260BC

About this board game

The God Kings: Warfare at the Dawn of Civilization, 1500–1260BC is a card-driven wargame for 2–4 players, with play time ranging from a 15-minute Battle of Kadesh scenario to roughly six hours for the complete campaign.

Set in the ancient Near East, the game places players in command of the major kingdoms of the era. Egypt during the New Kingdom, the Hittites, Mitanni, and the Babylonian Kassites all seek to establish the greatest empire, while the resurgent Assyria also makes an appearance.

The system is modeled on Mark Simonitch’s Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage. Each kingdom and its army is led by a king, and the game includes a wide range of historical rulers. Egypt’s leaders include Ramesses II, Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut, Thutmosis III, Amenhotep IV—better known as Akhenaten—and Tutankhamun.

• Control one of four principal ancient kingdoms in a struggle for regional dominance.
• Use a card-driven system to guide your kingdom and its armies.
• Lead notable rulers including Suppiluliuma, the greatest of the Hittite kings, and Muwatalli II, who faced and defeated the Egyptians at Kadesh.
• Dominate provinces that provide tribute and timber.
• Defeat neighboring armies and the barbarians that can appear at difficult moments.

With numerous scenarios, The God Kings supports both a focused recreation of the Battle of Kadesh and an extended campaign for control of the ancient Near East. Its historical cast, competing kingdoms, and changing military fortunes create a broad strategic contest for empire and glory.