Pharaoh

Pharaoh is a fast, elegant duel that makes use of the iconic Icehouse pyramid pieces. Each player starts with three pieces of their colour, initially off‑board and entering through the edge closest to them. The playing field is a 5 × 5 grid with the corners cut out, creating a square arena with a central “hole”. On a turn you roll a die and turn the result into action points. Moving a small, medium or large piece one orthogonal square costs 1, 2 or 3 points respectively; diagonal moves cost double. Stacking is forbidden, but landing on an opponent’s piece of equal or smaller size captures it, sending it back to its owner’s reserve for re‑entry later. Victory is achieved by getting all three of your pieces in a line of three squares exactly in the board’s centre. Because the path to the centre can be blocked, the game becomes a tug‑of‑war of positioning, point management and calculated risk. A typical game lasts about 15 minutes, making it perfect for a quick play session or as a warm‑up before heavier titles. Though the rules are simple, players must constantly weigh movement costs against the chance to eliminate an opponent’s piece, leading to tactical choices on every roll. Pharaoh blends the accessibility of a family‑friendly game with the depth of a classic abstract strategy, ideal for fans of short yet strategic battles.