# Thebes: The Tomb Raiders

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2013
- **BGG Rating**: 6.8
- **BGG Rank**: #3989
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 30 min
- **Weight**: 2.02 / 5
- **Designers**: Peter Prinz
- **Artists**: Christof Tisch, Michael Menzel
- **Publishers**: Queen Games
- **Categories**: Card Game, Exploration, Travel
- **Mechanics**: Open Drafting, Set Collection, Turn Order: Time Track

## Verdict
If you love a time‑race with an archaeological mystery twist, you’ll fall in love with this quick card game.Fun open‑draftStrategic set‑collectionTime as a resourceLimited timeModerate learning curveRECOMMENDED

## Description
In 2013, Queen Games released a card version of the classic Thebes, titled *Thebes: The Tomb Raiders*. The setting is the early 20th century, when curiosity about ancient cultures dominates the archaeological scene. Each player takes on the role of an explorer who wants to uncover treasures from five civilizations – Egypt, Mesopotamia, Crete, Greece, and Thebes itself – and to do so, they must accumulate knowledge about them. Knowledge functions as a “combo” of cards: the more you know about a culture, the faster and more efficiently you can “dig” in its deck, pulling treasures instead of dirt. Time is the most important resource: the time track determines who can act, forcing players to plan every move carefully. The open-draft mechanic lets everyone choose cards from a common pool, while set collection encourages building treasure sets that score points at the end. The goal is simple, but the blend of time management, knowledge, and strategy makes each game unique. The artwork is clean, with illustrations reminiscent of classic adventure card art, and the box includes high-quality components such as time markers, civilization cards and treasure tokens. In short, *Thebes: The Tomb Raiders* is a quick (30 min) card game that mixes exploration, set collection and a dash of race against the clock, perfect for those who love tactical challenges in a compact format.

## FAQ
### What is the average playtime?
About 30 minutes, great for quick sessions.

### How many players can play?
2 to 4 players, perfect for duos or small groups.

### Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, the rules are simple, but there are strategic layers for deeper play.

### What are the main components?
Civilization cards, time tokens, treasure markers and a time‑track board.

### What sets this game apart from other exploration games?
The mix of open‑draft, set collection and time‑based actions makes each game unique.

### Do I need a lot of pieces?
No, the box comes with everything you need: cards, markers and a small board.

### What’s the best way to learn the rules?
Start with a demo version or watch a tutorial video before playing.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
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- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 44.52 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5975850&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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