Cartouche

About this board game

Cartouche is a tile-laying game for 1–4 players that takes about 80 minutes, casting you as an archeologist restoring the legacy of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s greatest pharaohs.

Hatshepsut’s successors tried to erase her from history by removing her image and royal name, or cartouche, from murals and stone walls. In Cartouche, players work to restore these lost stories through thoughtful drafting and placement. The spaces you leave uncovered matter just as much as the spaces you fill.

The game lasts 10 rounds, with every round following three clear phases:

• Draft: Players take turns drafting story cards and mural tiles.
• Place: Players simultaneously arrange tiles on their boards and complete any applicable story cards.
• Score: Players simultaneously score for achievements.

Each decision shapes your developing murals. Drafting the right tiles can help you complete stories, while careful arrangement determines how effectively you restore the artwork and pursue achievements. Because uncovered spaces are part of the puzzle, simply filling your board is not the only path to a strong score.

As the rounds progress, players build their own restorations and collect points from completed story cards and achievements. When the story deck runs out after the tenth round, the player with the most points wins. With its blend of historical theme, simultaneous play, card drafting, and spatial tile placement, Cartouche offers a focused challenge for solo play or groups of up to four.