# Cyclades

Cyclades is a board game for 2–5 players. It plays in 60–90 minutes and is meant for ages 13 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 5. It is rated 7.3 out of 10 by 92 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $51.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–5 (best with 5)
- **Playing time:** 60–90 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 13+
- **Complexity:** 2.8 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2009
- **Categories:** Fighting, Mythology, City Building, Civilization, Nautical, Ancient
- **Mechanics:** Auction / Bidding, Variable Phase Order, Area Movement, Open Drafting, Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, Set Collection, Auction: Fixed Placement
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.3 out of 10, from 92 reviews
- **Owned by:** 107 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 292
- **Unique players:** 377

**Designers:** Ludovic Maublanc, Bruno Cathala

**Artists:** Miguel Coimbra

**Publishers:** Matagot, Взрослые дети

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardhaus Games | 51.99 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/cyclades/ |
| Miniature Market | 55.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/Cyclades/MAT-CYC-001-491 |
| Zatu Games | 47.29 £ | https://zatu.com/products/cyclades |
| Magia de Tinta | 57.95 € | https://www.magiadetinta.com/es/juegos/7052-cyclades-3760146644229.html |
| Alphaspel | 699 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/17273-cyclades |
| Ludifolie | 64.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/133-cyclades-nouvelle-edition.html |
| Fantasiapelit | 74.3 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_128229 |

## Expansions

- [Cyclades: Hades](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-hades)
- [Cyclades: Titans](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-titans)
- [Cyclades: Monuments](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-monuments)
- [C3K: Creatures Crossover Cyclades/Kemet](https://www.ludoya.com/games/c3k-creatures-crossover-cycladeskemet)
- [Cyclades: Hecate](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-hecate)
- [Cyclades: The Manticore](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-the-manticore)
- [Cyclades: Ancient Ruins](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-ancient-ruins)

## Similar games

- [Cyclades: Legendary Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades-legendary-edition)
- [Assyria: Second Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/assyria-second-edition)
- [Amun-Re: 20th Anniversary Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/amun-re-20th-anniversary-edition)
- [Mythic Battles: Pantheon](https://www.ludoya.com/games/mythic-battles-pantheon)
- [Antike](https://www.ludoya.com/games/antike)
- [Kemet: Blood and Sand – Kickstarter Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/kemet-blood-and-sand-kickstarter-edition)
- [Amun-Re](https://www.ludoya.com/games/amun-re)
- [Inis: Legendary Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/inis-big-box-2)
- [Antike II](https://www.ludoya.com/games/antike-ii)
- [Mare Nostrum: Empires](https://www.ludoya.com/games/mare-nostrum-empires)
- [Lords of Hellas](https://www.ludoya.com/games/lords-of-hellas)
- [Kemet](https://www.ludoya.com/games/kemet)

## Rules questions

### Can I place an offering I can't afford?

No — the rules forbid making an offering you cannot pay; you must be able to pay the full offered amount (p.3). Priests reduce the offering by 1 GP each but you must still pay at least 1 GP for an offering (see Priests, p.4).

### If someone outbids me on a God, do I have to choose a different God right away?

Yes — if you are outbid you must take your marker back and immediately bid on a different God; any chain of outbids must be resolved before the next player places an offering (p.3).

### If I buy a Mythological Creature can I keep it and use it later?

No — a Creature’s power must be used immediately when bought and then the card is placed in the discard pile; new Creature cards are only placed on the track at the beginning of each cycle (pp.3–2).

### What exactly does choosing Apollo do, and do I have to pay for it?

Apollo requires no offering (you may place your offering marker there without spending), and grants 1 GP if you own more than one isle or 4 GP if you own a single isle; the first player to choose Apollo that round also takes a prosperity marker — Apollo offers no other actions (pp.3,6).

### How are battles resolved and what do Fortresses and Ports do?

Each combatant rolls one die and adds the number of Troops/Fleets they have; defenders add +1 per Fortress (island) and +1 per Port (adjacent sea spaces), the lowest result loses one unit (ties cause both to lose one), and assaults repeat until one side remains (p.5).

### How do I create a Metropolis — do the four buildings have to be on the same isle?

You create a Metropolis by either owning the four different buildings (Port, Fortress, Temple, University) anywhere — you immediately discard them to place a Metropolis on an empty space (destroy buildings if no space) — or by discarding four Philosophers; you can also gain one by conquering an isle that already has a Metropolis (pp.4,6).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cyclades)
- [Cyclades in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/cyclades)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54998)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-23. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._