Thebai – Not Just What You Do, But When You Do It

Dark times have fallen upon Thebes, and things are not going well. The old king Oedipus has stepped away from the throne, leaving his sons in charge… which, let’s face it, was never going to end well. Instead of ruling together, they turn against each other. One is marching on the city with an army, while the other is trying to keep control from inside the walls.

Outside, war is coming, and inside, things are slowly starting to fall apart. With everything in chaos, the noble families turn their attention to the Cadmea, the ancient citadel at the centre of the city. Rebuilding it could bring stability, but also power, and everyone wants a say in how that will turn out.

Of course, nothing is that simple. The gods are watching, fate is always somewhere in the background, and things keep shifting both inside and outside the city.

In Thebai, you play as one of these families, trying to rebuild, gain influence, and come out ahead while everything around you slowly escalates.

👥 1-4 players, ages 14+
⌛ Playing time: 90-150 minutes
📝 Designer: Dávid Turczi
🎨 Artwork: Zuzanna Kołakowska, Lucas Melo & Piotr Sokołowski

🏢 Publisher: Board&Dice (review copy provided)

Gameplay Overview

The game is played over ten rounds, each divided into an action phase and a fate phase. During the action phase, players build up their position, and in the fate phase the game pushes back with global effects and occasional battles. After ten rounds, everything comes together in final scoring.

At the centre of the game is a dice system that drives both your actions and your progress. You have two types of dice. Citizen dice are used to take actions, while hoplite dice represent your military strength during battles. Each die has a power level, and over time you will upgrade or reduce them depending on your choices. Sometimes they even go beyond their normal limits and turn into long-term advantages for scoring.

The game takes place across your personal estate board and the shared city board. On your estate board, many action spaces start blocked, and you gradually unlock them by removing tiles, improving your board over time. The city board is where players interact more directly. Tiles and dice are placed here, and the situation keeps changing, so what you do often affects what others can do next.

Resources tie everything together. You collect and spend commodities and money, and you move along devotion tracks that give bonuses and can influence turn order.

During your turn, you use a citizen die either on your estate or on the city board. On your estate, you activate actions to gain resources, improve dice, unlock spaces, and take contracts. On the city board, you activate nearby tiles, sometimes combining multiple effects if you are willing to spend extra.

After placing your die, you move your archon. If it is not on the board yet, you place it. Otherwise, it moves across tiles and interacts with dice along the way. Passing over opponent dice strengthens them, while passing over your own dice weakens them or can cost you points, so movement ends up mattering more than you might expect. At the end of your turn, you can resolve extra effects such as completing contracts, which provide rewards now and contribute to scoring later.

Once all players have taken their turns, the fate phase begins. Some rounds provide general benefits, while others trigger battles. During battles, players compare their hoplite dice strength to the invader. Success brings rewards, while failure leads to penalties, especially if you did not participate at all.

As the game progresses, you develop your estate, improve your dice, and build a presence in the city. At the same time, you collect and complete contracts, forming sets for end-game scoring. After ten rounds, points are awarded based on several factors, including council positions, estate development, contracts, and remaining resources.

Gameplay & Flow

For us, the interesting part of Thebai is not just what you do, but when you do it. You are constantly making small timing decisions, deciding whether to use a strong die now or save it for later, and whether to focus on your own board or step into the shared space before someone else does. Those choices give the game a steady pace, even if the thinking behind each turn can take a bit longer.

The balance between the estate and the city board is what drives most of the flow. Your estate feels controlled and predictable, while the city feels more dynamic. I know during our first plays we often focused too much on our own boards, only to realise that the situation in the city had changed quite a bit in the meantime.

The archon movement is one of the more interesting parts of the game once you get used to it. It is not only about where you end up, but also how you move across the board. The effects along the way can shape both your own position and that of others. It is a clever idea, although it can slow things down when players start looking for the most efficient route.

The overall flow improves once everyone is familiar with the structure. The first game can feel a bit uneven, as players get used to the different steps in a turn. After that, it becomes much smoother and easier to follow.

Strategy & Luck

Thebai is mostly about planning ahead. You are working towards long-term goals through estate development, dice improvement, and contract sets, and small decisions early on can matter later.

The city board adds a positional element to that planning. You are not playing in isolation, so you need to keep an eye on what others are doing and adjust your approach accordingly. Sometimes your plans change because someone else takes a space, and sometimes because they accidentally make something better for you.

Contracts create a balance between opportunity and risk. They give you direction, but also require commitment. Taking too many too early can become a problem if you cannot complete them, and the game does not ignore that.

There is some luck, but it never really takes over. The availability of tiles and contracts can influence your options, especially early on, but there is usually enough flexibility to adjust your approach.

Battles introduce a bit of uncertainty, mainly because you are trying to predict how much others will commit. Those moments can feel tense, as it is not always clear what the best decision is.

Player Interaction

Interaction in Thebai is mostly indirect, but it is always there. You are not attacking or directly blocking other players, but your decisions can influence what is available on the board.

The shared city board is where this is most visible. Space is limited, and placing tiles or dice can shape the options for everyone. Timing matters here, especially when certain positions become valuable.

The archon movement adds a bit more interaction. Moving across the board and affecting dice creates small shifts that can influence other players. I mean, sometimes you end up helping someone else more than yourself, which is… generous, I guess.

Battles bring players into a more direct comparison. You are competing for rewards based on strength, which creates tension without turning the game into direct conflict.

Theme & Atmosphere

The theme of Thebai is present, but it stays fairly subtle. You are rebuilding the city, dealing with conflict, and trying to gain influence, and that all fits well within the setting.

The city board helps reinforce this, as it changes over time and gives a sense of development. At the same time, the experience remains focused on systems and decisions rather than storytelling.

Components & Art

The game has a clean and practical look that fits well with modern euro design. The colour palette is soft, and the iconography is clear, making it easy to read during play.

The city board becomes the visual centre as the game progresses. It forms a structured layout that looks quite appealing, although it can become busy once everything is in place.

The cards and tiles focus more on function than artwork. The icons are consistent and do their job well, even if they take a bit of time to learn.

The dice stand out the most. They are easy to read, feel good to handle, and add some contrast to the table. Player pieces and tokens are simple but clear, which helps during play.

Pacing & Replayability

The game follows a clear structure, with a steady rhythm created by the action and fate phases. Early turns can feel slower while players get used to the system, but the game becomes more focused as it progresses.

There is some variation in setup and available options, which allows for different approaches. At the same time, the overall structure remains consistent, so repeated plays may feel familiar over time.

Accessibility & Complexity

Thebai sits in the medium-heavy category. The rules themselves are manageable, but the interaction between systems adds complexity, especially for new players.

It takes some time before everything clicks, so the first game can feel a bit demanding. The playtime on the box may also be optimistic for early plays, especially with a teach.

The rulebook is very well done, though. It is clearly structured, includes helpful examples, and answers most questions before they come up. The player aids, icon reference, and appendix all support the learning process.

Final Thoughts

For us, Thebai is a game that becomes more enjoyable once you are familiar with it. The first play is about understanding the different systems, and after that you start to see how everything fits together.

What we noticed over a few plays is that the game encourages you to think ahead while still leaving room to adjust. You are not locked into a single approach, and there is space to explore different ways of playing.

It is also a game where small decisions add up over time. You can see how your choices shape the outcome, which makes it satisfying to play, especially after a few games.

Overall, Thebai offers a thoughtful and well-structured experience. It may take a bit of time to get into, but once you do, there is a lot to appreciate.

📝 We received a review copy from Board&Dice.