Perikles
- Players
- 3-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 5 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.3 / 5
- Year
- 2006
About the game
Perikles, designed by Martin Wallace, casts three to five players as noble families vying to lead the ancient Greek city-states during the era of the Peloponnesian War. The game unfolds in two linked phases: players first compete for area control and win elections in each of six city-states, then use cards to march the armies they've won control of into one of seven battles fought each round. That tight integration of political maneuvering and military conquest is what sets Perikles apart from other area-control wargames. With straightforward core mechanics and a runtime of about two hours, it delivers a historically grounded but accessible euro-wargame hybrid.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team rates this as one of Martin Wallace's more elegant designs - the way voting and combat feed into each other is genuinely clever rather than bolted together. It rewards players who can read the political tides of each city-state before committing forces to battle. The game has fallen out of print, which is a shame given how well its systems mesh.
What we like
- Area-control voting and military conquest are tightly and cleverly integrated.
- Straightforward core mechanics keep the rules accessible for a wargame.
- Strong historical theme grounded in the Peloponnesian War.
- Rewards reading opponents' political and military intentions each round.
Keep in mind
- Combat and elections can produce swingy, luck-influenced outcomes.
- Player count below five can reduce the game's political tension.
- Out-of-print status makes the game harder to find.
Who it's for
Fans of area-control and light wargames who enjoy political maneuvering; best for three to five experienced gamers.
