ARQA
A strategy board game of expansion, negotiation and conquest in the ancient world, for two to four players.
Each player becomes the Arqa, the ultimate ruler, of one of five kingdoms. You begin governing a single region. Over a campaign you build fortresses, fortify them, raise structures in your capital, send merchants along the trading route, and commit warriors where you think they will hold.
Some tables are won on the battlefield. Others are won by quietly out-earning everyone and holding the most victory points when the timeline runs out. Both are real paths, and the winner is often not who the table expected.
- 2–4 players
- 45–90 minutes
- Ages 14+
- Released 2024
- Player elimination
Three steps, then everything else
Choose a kingdom
Take one of five homelands. Each starts in a different corner of the map, with different neighbours and different problems.
Build the empire
Claim regions with fortresses, fortify what matters, raise a granary, barracks or temple in your capital, and earn through trade or cultivation.
Dominate the Continent
Win by holding nine fortresses, by capturing your rivals outright, or by carrying the most victory points to the end of the timeline.
What is in the box
| Game board (the World Map) | 1 |
| Kingdom boards | 5 |
| Character cards | 24 |
| Event cards | 30 |
| Letter cards | 30 |
| Wooden units: warriors, merchants, peasants | 35 |
| Cubes, representing fortresses | 50 |
| Coins: 30 of one gold, 10 of three gold | 40 |
| Action die and event die | 2 |
| Fortification, structure and cultivation tokens, plus the Time Token | — |
| Rulebook | 1 |
Costs, points and endings
| Build | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fortress | 3 coins |
| Fortification | 2 coins |
| Warrior | 10 coins |
| Granary | 1 coin |
| Barracks | 3 coins |
| Temple | 5 coins |
| Victory points | VP |
|---|---|
| Coin | 1 |
| Fortification | 3 |
| Fortress | 5 |
| Captured enemy warrior | 10 |
| Destroyed enemy fortress | 10 |
| Unified kingdom | 10 |
| Temple | 10 |
How you win
Hold nine standing fortresses. Or capture every rival's warriors. Or take their capitals. Or simply hold the most victory points when the Time Token reaches the end of the timeline.
How you lose
Lose your last warrior. Lose the fortress in your capital. Or finish the timeline without the most victory points. ARQA has player elimination, and a game can end for you before it ends for the table.
Negotiation runs throughout, and none of it binds. Players may promise anything, but agreements are not enforceable and forces from different kingdoms can never be combined.
From people who bought it
I never write reviews, but honestly this game is really great. It does start off a bit slow and, perhaps the only change I would make is for each civilization to start off with one fortress. Otherwise, it seems like everyone makes the same first move: get money and then start a fortress. However, once things get moving the game’s strategy REALLY picks up and the character cards: WHAT! Such a good element. They can really make or break someone’s turn, which is usually really well thought out (or so you hope). All of that can come crashing down, forcing you to re-think your strategy. Honestly, this is one of the top games I’ve played and I give a round of applause to the creators for creating a game with so much strategy, thinking and playability. Also, the winner is not always who you think it’s going to be, making King Making less of an issue.
This game is tons of fun! My wife and I really enjoy it! There is a good mix of different mechanics that all mix together beautifully and play into one another. The varied avenues to victory allow for different playstyles and encourage you to be on your toes and watch what your opponent is working towards. Would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys strategy games!
Got it on Christmas. Played 3 and 4 players. Very fun game with lots of ways to play, especially if you’re fond of history and area control.
Great new strategy game on Amazon! A Hidden Gem! Easy to learn, difficult to master, some luck vs lots of strategy. Great at 2, 3 or 4 players.