No featured offers available Learn more

No featured offers available

We feature offers with an Add to Cart button when an offer meets our high standards for:

  • Quality Price,
  • Reliable delivery option, and
  • Seller who offers good customer service
“No featured offers available” means no offers currently meet all of these expectations. Select See All Buying Options to shop available offers.

Select delivery location
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Registries. Please try again.
Create
{imgTag}
{registryName}
Select a gift tag
Create gift tags
Gift tags group items on your list. Make it easy for guests to find a gift, create tags to group items however you choose - name, room, item type, color, etc.
Gift Tags can be seen by anyone viewing your gift list.
Are you sure you want to delete the gift tag ?
Any items on your gift list with this gift tag will become untagged.

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error in retrieving your gitf tags. Please try again.

Imhotep Builder of Egypt | Family Board Game by Kosmos | 2-4 Players | Ages 10+ | Toy of The Year Finalist | Parents Choice Gold Award Winner | Toy Insider Top Holiday Toy | Spiel Des Jahres-Nominated

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,128 ratings

To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
Brand Thames & Kosmos
Material Wood
Theme Games
Genre Strategy
Number of Players 4

About this item

  • By Phil walker-harding, designer of sushi go, small world, Archaeology the card game and cacao
  • 2016 Spiel des Jahres nominee
  • A strategy game for 2-4 players
  • Recommended for ages 10+
  • 40 minute estimated play time

Product information

Feedback

Imhotep

Imhotep Builder of Egypt | Family Board Game by Kosmos | 2-4 Players | Ages 10+ | Toy of The Year Finalist | Parents Choice Gold Award Winner | Toy Insider Top Holiday Toy | Spiel Des Jahres-Nominated


Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can't match every price reported, we'll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.

Where did you see a lower price?

/
/
/
/
Please sign in to provide feedback.

Product Description

Imhotep. The legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments. His awe-inspiring structures and brutal tactics earned him divine status among ancient Egyptians. Can you match his ruthless determination to build the most revered monuments? To do this, you will need to transport stone blocks on ships from your quarry to different construction sites. But you alone do not choose where the ships go. Your opponents have monumental plans of their own and want to prevent your success. A fierce competition For the precious stone resources plays out. Only with the right strategy and a little luck can you succeed. In Imhotep, the players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian architects. Over six rounds, they try to transport their stone blocks to end up in the most valuable positions at five construction sites: pyramid, Obelisk, chamber tomb, temple, and market. But a player can only choose one of three actions in a turn: excavate a new stone block from the Quarry, load a block onto a ship, or move a ship to a construction site. From there, The massive stone blocks must be unloaded in order from bow to stern and placed on the sites in preset sequences. Depending on where the blocks end up, players earn different point values either immediately or at the end of the game. In each turn, you must weigh your options for getting your own stones into place and thwarting your opponents' Placement plans. You must get your blocks to the right places, in the right order, at the right time to be the greatest architect.

Important information

Safety Information

None Required


From the manufacturer


About KOSMOS Games

KOSMOS games build social skills, stimulate logical and strategic thinking, promote visual-spatial and math skills, cultivate physical coordination and manual dexterity, encourage family time, and inspire fair-mindedness, confidence, and honorable attitudes. German engineered and beautifully made, these games become enduring family favorites and game night classics. For all these reasons, Kosmos games have earned worldwide acclaim.

Imhotep

Builder of Egypt

Players take on the role of ancient Egyptian architects. Over six rounds, they try to transport stone blocks to end up in the most valuable positions at five construction sites, while thwarting their opponents' efforts to do the same. To win the game and be named the greatest architect, you must get your blocks to the right place places, in the right order, at the right time.

  • For ages 10 and up
  • 2-4 players
  • Play Time: 40 minutes
  • A 2016 Spiel des Jahres nominee (German for 'Game of the Year')

About the Author

Since childhood, Phil Walker-Harding has loved playing and inventing board games. He particularly likes games that bring together people of different ages and personality types. Phil is also interested in theology, classic Hollywood films, and the myths of ancient Egypt. He lives with his wife Meredith in Sydney, Australia.

What's in the Box?

Contents

  • 120 Wooden blocks (called 'stones'; 30 in each of the 4 game colors: black, white, brown, and gray)
  • 5 Site boards (Market, Pyramids, Temple, Burial Chamber, Obelisks), all double-sided with different placement rules to add variety to the game play
  • 1 Scoring track board
  • 8 Ship tokens
  • 4 Supply sled tokens (1 in each of the 4 game colors: black, white, brown, and gray)
  • 21 Round cards
  • 34 Market cards

Overview

The Site Boards

There are five site boards included in the game: the Market, Pyramids, Temple, Burial Chamber, and Obelisks. Players work to get stones of their color on the most advantageous positions on each site board. Each site has different scoring mechanisms and the boards are double-sided: players start with the 'A' side, and can move on to the 'B' side once they're familiar with the game. The 'B' side offers advanced block placement instructions as well as some fun variety from game to game! A scoring track helps to keep track of players' scores as the game advances.

The Round Cards and Market Cards

A new round card is flipped over at the beginning of every round. These cards tell you which four ships are being used in that round. The market cards offer players the chance to earn extra points or perform additional actions during his or her turn. There are spots for four market cards on the market board and they are discarded and replaced at the beginning of each round.

The Manual

The full-color illustrated manual provides detailed instructions for game play and includes examples of potential scenarios. Also included are descriptions of the scoring mechanisms used for each site board (both 'A' and 'B' sides!), as well as variants to add an extra level of difficulty to the game.

Game Attributes

In this game of action selection and block placement, strategic skills are key! During each turn you must weigh your options: is it more important to get your own stones into place, or to thwart your opponents' plans? Imhotep is a great choice for kids, families, and adults alike! It's popular among many a seasoned gamer, but it's also a great 'gateway game' to introduce newer players to the world of modern board games.

On your turn, you choose an action...

Action 1: Get New Stones

On your turn, you can take up to three stones of your color from the quarry and add it to your supply sled token. But remember: your supply sled token only has room for a maximum of 5 stones at any one time!

Action 2: Place a Stone

If you choose this action during your turn, you can take one stone from your supply sled and place it on an empty space on one of the ships being used in the round.

Action 3: Sail a Ship

As long as a ship is loaded with the minimum number of stones required for it to sail, you can sail that ship to an open dock at one of the five sites. Once the ship is docked, stones are unloaded from front to back. Beware of your fellow architects! Anyone can sail a ship even if there are no stones of his or her color on it, potentially ruining your plans for victory!

Action 4: Play a Blue Market Card

There are 4 types of market cards in Imhotep--some earn you points immediately, some at the end of the game. The blue market cards allow you to perform an additional action during your turn, e.g. place a stone on a ship and sail it to a site right away.

What's in the box

  • Game Boards^ Assorted color blocks^ Game Cards
  • Looking for specific info?

    Customer reviews

    4.7 out of 5 stars
    4.7 out of 5
    1,128 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers find the game fun and enjoyable to play. They say it's a straightforward game to learn and quick to learn, with many different ways to win. They also appreciate the Egyptian theme, saying it'll be a great gateway game for the family. Customers also praise the quality of the game, saying the pieces are solid and the finish is solid. They mention that the game has a lot of replayability, with variety of actions.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    129 customers mention129 positive0 negative

    Customers find the game fun, enjoyable, and easy to play. They say it makes a great gateway game, good game to play with the family, and worthwhile to keep playing. Customers also mention that the game has great potential and is a good start to the game night.

    "...The variations in the box makes it more fun and deep. It is very much enjoyable to play only by 2 players, most games aren't...." Read more

    "...Such a fun game. The components are stellar, nice chunky cubes, solid cardboard tiles, and solid finish cards...." Read more

    "...It makes a great gateway game for this reason...." Read more

    "This game is simple to teach and enjoyable to play. Players take turns placing stone resources from their supply onto ships...." Read more

    119 customers mention107 positive12 negative

    Customers find the board game straightforward to play, with many different ways to win and much strategy involved. They say it's simple to learn but difficult to master. The game plays in under an hour and 2 player games often last 30 minutes. However, it'll keep an adult involved and is thought provoking.

    "...board game: very pretty look, not to many pieces, easy set up, not too long play time (20-40 minutes), replayable, playable by 2, easy to learn...." Read more

    "...I also feel that the game moves quickly and games are over in a flash making it easy to play another round or another game during game nights...." Read more

    "I like this game because it's simple to learn but difficult to master. Gameplay is really elegant with only one main game mechanic...." Read more

    "This game is simple to teach and enjoyable to play. Players take turns placing stone resources from their supply onto ships...." Read more

    35 customers mention35 positive0 negative

    Customers find the game difficult. They say it's a spot on theme, elegant gateway game, and very thought provoking. They also appreciate the blend of building your own goals versus sticking it to your competitors. Customers also say the game is quick, fun, and has just enough competition. They mention the stunning game materials for a really cheap price, and plenty of strategy to keep it interesting.

    "...This game is everything I like in a board game: very pretty look, not to many pieces, easy set up, not too long play time (20-40 minutes), replayable..." Read more

    "...On top of that this game is really pleasant and nice to look at. The theme is beautifully held out in the components and game play...." Read more

    "...gamers this is a great start the game night game that is quick, fun, thematic, and has just enough competition you get the juices flowing without..." Read more

    "...Theme:I think it is spot on theme that also adds to the game...." Read more

    23 customers mention23 positive0 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the quality of the board game. They mention that the pieces are solid wood or cardboard, and have a good thick card stock. Some mention that there was a bent corner, but overall, they are happy with the product.

    "...Such a fun game. The components are stellar, nice chunky cubes, solid cardboard tiles, and solid finish cards...." Read more

    "...The pieces or won good thick card stcock and the “stones” nice and actually pretty big pieces of wood about the size of a dice...." Read more

    "...The quality of the components and the artwork is top notch as well...." Read more

    "...Smooth operations. Sturdy pieces." Read more

    15 customers mention15 positive0 negative

    Customers find the board game has a lot of replayability. They say it has s variety of actions and multiple variations to keep things interesting. They also mention that it has different ways to win and an expansion that offers alternative difficulty levels.

    "...to many pieces, easy set up, not too long play time (20-40 minutes), replayable, playable by 2, easy to learn...." Read more

    "...The game has a great expansion that allows for multiple ports (ways to score) that will change the game up a bit...." Read more

    "...And the alternate ways to play each monument makes for a lot of replayability. Not that turkey game that will sit in your closet...." Read more

    "This game has such variety of actions that it is so fun to olay and replay. The Egyptian theme is so well done. I love it." Read more

    10 customers mention10 positive0 negative

    Customers like the size of the board game. They say it works well for 2 players, and it doesn't take too much room up. The stones are nice and big pieces of wood about the size a dice. The components are stellar, with nice chunky cubes, solid cardboard tiles.

    "...The design is simply beautiful, and it doesn't take too much room up, you can travel with it just fine...." Read more

    "...Such a fun game. The components are stellar, nice chunky cubes, solid cardboard tiles, and solid finish cards...." Read more

    "Imhotep is great with three or four players, but also works well at two. We really enjoy the varied strategy involved...." Read more

    "...good thick card stcock and the “stones” nice and actually pretty big pieces of wood about the size of a dice...." Read more

    8 customers mention8 positive0 negative

    Customers find the mechanics of the board game interesting, great, and simple. They also say the game is fun and thought-provoking, with surprisingly challenging tactics.

    "...And if needed in the long run, randomize them!PROs: Simple mechanics, VERY thought provoking, MUST think a few turns ahead...." Read more

    "This is a great gateway game! The mechanics are simple and there is always a challenge. You are limited to 4 choices of actions...." Read more

    "...Good mechanics and fun, I’m sure it’ll come out more often eventually." Read more

    "My kids and I really enjoy this game. It has simple mechanics, but plenty of strategy to keep it interesting." Read more

    5 customers mention5 positive0 negative

    Customers find the resource gathering in the board game to be a great feature. They mention that the game has many different strategies to incorporate and several ways to accrue points. Customers also say the game hits all of the sweet spots.

    "This is a great game, really easy to learn. Resource gathering, strategic moves, sometimes helping yourself, sometimes trying to derail the other..." Read more

    "...There are several ways to accrue points so you really don't know who the winner is until the end. That keeps everyone engaged." Read more

    "This game hits all of the sweet spots. Easy to learn and explain, and just enough layers of strategy to make it interesting...." Read more

    "Good game. Many different strategies to incorporate and try for the win." Read more

    Excellent Egyptian Endeavor
    5 Stars
    Excellent Egyptian Endeavor
    This game is a fantastic addition to any collection, family or hobby even!This game is super simple to pick up but has lots of sneaky stragety. And by the end you feel like you have accomplished a lot... But it's only taken 30 min!For families this is a fun game that is nothing like the usual Mainstays clue or monopoly, and thats a great thing!For gamers this is a great start the game night game that is quick, fun, thematic, and has just enough competition you get the juices flowing without seeing red.
    Thank you for your feedback
    Sorry, there was an error
    Sorry we couldn't load the review

    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
    71 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2016
    27 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2017
    72 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2019
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2018
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Egyptian Endeavor
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020
    This game is a fantastic addition to any collection, family or hobby even!

    This game is super simple to pick up but has lots of sneaky stragety. And by the end you feel like you have accomplished a lot... But it's only taken 30 min!

    For families this is a fun game that is nothing like the usual Mainstays clue or monopoly, and thats a great thing!

    For gamers this is a great start the game night game that is quick, fun, thematic, and has just enough competition you get the juices flowing without seeing red.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
    6 people found this helpful
    Report

    Top reviews from other countries

    Translate all reviews to English
    Luke J. Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great game
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2023
    Lobo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buen juego
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 25, 2020
    Necrophoris
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gioco semplice ma profondo
    Reviewed in Italy on March 10, 2022
    Joel Valente
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rápido e eficaz
    Reviewed in Spain on February 20, 2021
    Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jeu
    Reviewed in France on May 16, 2020