€44,99
Lords of Heaven
The Frogames review
Area control in the Crusades: alliances without guarantees, sieges and Jerusalem up for grabs
The Seljuks attack the Byzantines at Antioch and ask you to pick a side: choose wisely, knowing that promises made at the table bind no one.
You lead one of the four powers of the medieval Middle East: the Crusaders, the Byzantines, the Fatimid Caliphate or the Seljuks. You vie for Jerusalem, Antioch, Edessa, Tripoli and the other Locations during the first two Crusades.
On your turn you play an Action card into a column: Development, Presence, Mobilisation or Income. Every card already stacked in that column changes how much you pay or collect. Battles and Sieges score points, but the dice matter. Whoever has the most Victory Points after two Crusades wins.
Released in 2026 by PHALANX. Aleksander Jagodziński is behind both the rules and the artwork.
Game mechanics tap one to see other games that use it
hand managementarea majority / influencearea movementcard play conflict resolutionauction / biddingcampaign / battle card drivennegotiationaction / eventsemi-cooperative gameking of the hillalliances
Only here: Shared action columns with cumulative costsCategory:Wargame · Gioco di strategia · Medioevo
At a glance
Why we like it. The shared action columns mean the cards others play weigh on your turn, and non-binding alliances turn every battle into a negotiation around the whole table.
Good to know. It's at its best with four, with every faction at the table, and you'll need to read English card text during play.
What kind of gameFrogScore + Luckdice in battle, rerolls allowed Strategybuildings and Upgrades stay put Interactionmajorities, shared columns, battles Paceone card per turn Replayability4 factions, 3 modules Rated by Frogames · from the rules · what the levels mean
We set the levels by reading the rules, always with the same yardstick: a 3 means the same on every game.
Luckhalf and half
- you decide
- mostly you
- half and half
- often chance
- chance decides
Strategybuild for later
- one choice per turn
- plan a few turns
- plan half the game
- build for later
- the whole game is a plan
Interactionyou get in the way
- each to their own
- you compete for things
- you get in the way
- you hit each other
- you attack each other
Paceshort turns
- lots of waiting
- long turns
- medium turns
- short turns
- you play together
Replayabilitya lot changes
- always the same
- card order changes
- part of it changes
- a lot changes
- every game is different
When to bring it outA long evening with four players and time to haggle
Best player countfilled = best · 8 votes ·
Language dependenceTanto
How to play
Watch a game
Official rulebook (PDF) →- 1Play a cardPlace an Action card in a column and pay or collect whatever remains visible.
- 2Expand your PresencePlace Influence in Cities and Support in Regions, next to where you already are.
- 3Fight and negotiateWith Mobilisation you launch a Battle or a Siege, seeking allies around the table.
- 4Count the pointsEach Garrison is worth 1 point at the end of a Crusade; after two Crusades, the most points wins.
What’s in the box
1 boardThe map of the Middle East with the action columns and the Victory Point track.
10 Location tilesEach split into Region and City; after a Sack the tile is flipped.
48 Presence markersDouble-sided, Influence and Support, 12 per colour.
12 diceCustom six-sided dice with strength and wound symbols.
Cards in the box · 97
- 50 Action cards
- 4 Bluff cards
- 19 Round cards
- 24 Leader cards
Questions about Lords of Heaven
Does Lords of Heaven work well with two players?+
It works, but it shines with four. In the BGG poll 62% name four as the best player count, while 40% advise against it with two. With two or three you remove the missing factions and their Locations (Iconium, Edessa or Ascalon).
How much English do you need to play Lords of Heaven?+
You'll need to read it during play. The edition is in English and the 50 Action cards, 19 Round cards and 24 Leader cards all have written effects; BGG rates its language dependence as high.
Is Lords of Heaven hard to learn?+
It's a medium-heavy game: 3.2 out of 5 on BGG. The rulebook offers simplified versions for your first games: no draft, no Round card effects and no faction abilities.
How do you win at Lords of Heaven?+
Whoever has the most Victory Points at the end of the second Crusade wins. You score by taking part in and winning Battles and Sieges, through Upgrades, with buildings on the map and with 1 point per Garrison at the end of each Crusade. In case of a tie, whoever controls Jerusalem wins.
Does Lords of Heaven hold up over many plays?+
Yes, because each game changes somewhat. Round cards set the length of each Crusade (6 to 8 rounds), the draft changes your starting hand and the box includes three modules: Scenarios, Fleets and Leaders.
Can Lords of Heaven be played solo?+
No. The rulebook covers games for 2 to 4 players and has no solo rules.
How long does a game of Lords of Heaven last?+
60 to 120 minutes. The game is split into two Crusades, each of 6 to 8 rounds, and in each round everyone takes just one action.
Is Lords of Heaven suitable for children?+
The recommended age is 14 and up. There's negotiation, alliances, battles and English text to read on the cards.
Do the factions in Lords of Heaven play differently?+
They follow the same rules but each has its own ability and a different starting position. The Crusaders move the People's Crusade, the Byzantines double a City's income, the Seljuks place Support anywhere by paying gold, and the Caliphate gains Faith after every victory.
How much does luck matter in Lords of Heaven?+
Moderately. Dice add strength and wounds in conflicts, but each Church or Mosque lets you reroll a die, and Faith, the Bluff card and your choice of card give you control over the outcome.
How do alliances work in Lords of Heaven?+
Before each Battle, anyone with Support in the Region can side with the Attacker or the Defender. You can trade gold and make promises, but no deal is binding; the winner's ally gains 1 extra point.
Can you be eliminated in Lords of Heaven?+
No. Anyone left with no Presence on the map can take the Presence action for free and return with 1 Influence and 1 Support in a City.
“A Crusades war game where negotiation matters as much as the sword, and every card played changes everyone else's costs.”
Who is behind Lords of Heaven
Who designed it, who drew it, who publishes it, and what else they made.
Publisher
PHALANXAlso: Hannibal & HamilcarAll 5 games in our range →
Designer
Aleksander Jagodziński
Artist
Aleksander Jagodziński
All the BoardGameGeek data released 2026 · #15766 overall · Powered by BoardGameGeek +
- Rating
- 7,45/10 · 66 ratings
- Rank
- #15766 overall
- Complexity
- 3,2/5
- Year
- 2026
- Designers
- Aleksander Jagodziński
- Artists
- Aleksander Jagodziński
- Categories
- Carte, Medioevo
- Mechanics
- Action / Event, Alliances, Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Auction / Bidding, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Card Play Conflict Resolution, Hand Management, King of the Hill, Negotiation, Semi-Cooperative Game, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types
- Language dependence
- Tanto
Powered by BoardGameGeek
Lords of Heaven in short. A game for 2 to 4 players by Aleksander Jagodziński, published by PHALANX in 2026. A game lasts 60 to 120 minutes, ages 14 and up. Four factions vie for Jerusalem with shared action columns, majorities in Cities and alliances no one is obliged to honour. English edition, with text on the cards, available at frogames.business.
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