Stats:
No. of players: 3-6
Amount of time to play: 60-120 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: 5 min

Titans is the second expansion for Cyclades. It is more aggressive and adds new units, a new board and team play.

Cyclades Titans Rules Description:

Titans is not a stand-alone expansion. You must own the base Cyclades board game to play this expansion. If you have not played the base game, read my overview and review here. This post is going to focus on the new elements introduced in the Titans expansion.

There is a new map to use with this expansion. Now it is made up of one or two large islands (depending on the number of players) with a few other small islands nearby. These islands are made up of individual territories that can hold your buildings and metropolises. You may move between territories using Ares or your Titans’ special ability.

This expansion adds the ability to play with six players and a new team mode. If you play with six players you must use the team rules. With four players you have the option to play with teams or as individuals. If you have three or five players you play with the regular rules.

Team play is similar to playing on your own. One difference is that you need three metropolises to win. And the game ends at the end of the round when one or more teams build their third metropolis. That team may still lose one or more metropolises before the end of the round. But the team with the most metropolises at the end of the round wins the game. Money breaks ties. Another new rule is that you can eliminate another player and place a metropolis. But only if the defender’s space does not already contain a metropolis, has the space for a metropolis and would give the attacker their third metropolis.

Kronos is the new god added to the mix. He lets you build a building of any god above him on the auction board and the option to buy a Titan. If he is in the top spot on the auction board you gain a Titan for free. Titans are like normal army units, except that you can move them no matter which god you win in the auction except for Apollo. You can move any units in the space with your Titan and it costs 1 GP for the first space, 2 GP more for the second, etc.

Five divine artifacts are added to the monster deck. These artifacts are bought just like monsters but without a discount for temples. They travel with one of your armies and grant them special abilities including extra income. If the army carrying it is defeated the artifact changes hands. If playing the team game you can pay 1 GP to move the artifact amongst teammates.

Lastly there are five new special metropolises. You randomly draw two of the five special metropolises and place them face up on the board. The first two players to build a metropolis take one of the special metropolis cards. Each special metropolis has a special ability. One has +3 defense, another grants you 2 GP during the income phase, one lets you trade in three philosophers to build a metropolis, one gives you a +3 power when fighting on sea spaces and the other gives you a 2 GP discount when buying monsters.

If you have the first expansion, Hades, they can be mixed but that you do so at your own peril. I think mixing them might bog the game down depending on which parts of the two expansions you decide to include in your game.

Quick Review of Cyclades Titans Expansion:

Titans really changes Cyclades a lot. A couple players in my group thought it was almost a different board game. The new map and the ability to attack on any turn with Titans definitely make it more “fighty”.

The components for this expansion are great just like in the base game. The rules are easy to read and follow and the art is well done. The miniatures still look very nice and are included for the Titans, new purple team and the artifacts.

I like the modularity of the expansions. And I think the new metropolises are good for either the base game or this one. Some players hold off and wait to get a metropolis or wait until someone else gets one before they get one. It does make you a target, but since the first two grant you special abilities. This can make it pretty enticing to grab one. Just be sure you can defend it.

The buildings starting on the map also accelerate the game, which is good. And the auction for starting board positions adds some strategy and replay value.

I like having the option to play with teams as is creates a new dynamic. Team mode is fun and moves fast.

There are a few things about the changes that aren’t great though. First not all the gods are accessible unless you play with six players. And if your base game has really been played it can be easy to track Kronos. My original god tiles are a bit worn and when Kronos is facedown you know exactly where he is. It is not a big deal but a bit annoying.

Secondly, ships are not very useful on the 3-4 player map. The can get you some prosperity markers but you don’t often need them to attack. This makes Poseidon a little less desirable.

Titans is a fun expansion that really mixes things up. I think I prefer the base board game but understand my group loves the base game. I can enjoy the changes this expansion brings from time to time, especially the additional player. If you enjoy Cyclades you should give this a try. Your group might really like it, especially if they wish there was more fighting in the game.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 5 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 6 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6