The Red Cathedral

About this board game

The Red Cathedral is a strategic Euro board game for 1–4 players, with games lasting about 80 minutes. Set in Moscow, it casts players as construction teams working to build St. Basil’s Cathedral at the command of Ivan the Terrible.

Each turn, choose one of three actions: assign a cathedral section, send resources to a section you have claimed, or visit the game board to gather what you need. The cathedral is divided into columns, and claiming sections gives you control of their spaces. Building more sections—and completing each one with its own tower—can earn valuable points at the end of the game.

Resource gathering takes place on the game board’s iconic rondel. Choose a die, move around the central track by the number shown on its top face, and collect the resources indicated by the destination space. Guilds and professionals can also provide favors, helping you make the most of your trip to the market.

• Claim cathedral sections before your rivals can take them.
• Deliver resources to complete your sections and receive money and prestige points.
• Add decorations to completed sections to gain even more recognition from the Tsar.
• Watch the timing carefully: completing a sixth section by any player triggers the end of the game.

Every action requires attention to the other players’ plans, creating a contest over space, resources, and timing. The Red Cathedral offers accessible rules while retaining plenty of strategic depth for players who enjoy optimizing their position from one game to the next.