View source for Tigris and Euphrates

{{italic title}}
{{For|the Middle East river system|Tigris–Euphrates river system}}
{{Infobox game
 |subject_name  = Tigris and Euphrates
 |image_link    = [[File:Tigris and Euphrates game.JPG|250px]]
 |image_caption = 
 |designer      = [[Reiner Knizia]]
 |publisher     = [[Hans im Glück]]
 |genre         = [[Board game]]
 |players       = 2–4
 |ages          = 12+
 |setup_time    = 5 minutes
 |playing_time  = 90 minutes
 |complexity    = Medium
 |strategy      = High
 |random_chance = Low
 |skills        = [[Strategy game|Strategy]]
 |bggid         = 42
 |bggxrefs      = t
 |footnotes     =
}}

'''''Tigris and Euphrates'''''  ({{lang-de|'''Euphrat und Tigris'''}}) is a [[German-style board game|German-style strategy board game]] designed by [[Reiner Knizia]] and first published in 1997 by [[Hans im Glück]].  Before its publication, it was highly anticipated by German gamers hearing rumors of a "[[gamer]]'s game" designed by Knizia.  ''Tigris and Euphrates'' won first prize in the 1998 [[Deutscher Spiele Preis]].  A [[card game]] version was released in 2005.

The game is set as a clash between neighboring dynasties at the dawn of civilization. The game is named after the rivers [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] in the region now called the [[Middle-East]]. The rivers together formed natural borders for an area which harboured several grand ancient civilizations, including [[Sumer]], [[Babylon]]ia, and [[Assyria]]. The Greeks called this area [[Mesopotamia]], which literally means "between the rivers".

==Gameplay==
The game can be played by 2, 3 or 4 people. The play offers both [[military tactics|tactical]] and [[strategy|strategic]] objectives. As with many games, short term objectives gain prominence when more players participate, as players have fewer chances to follow up on previous moves. Luck plays a role, as players draw [[Tile-based game|tiles]] from a bag, but it is seldom decisive. Players may selectively discard and redraw their tiles at the cost of one "action point", of which each has two per turn. The game does not use [[dice]].

The board is a map of the two rivers, marked with a square grid.  There are four types of tiles with corresponding leaders: temples and priests (red), farms and farmers (blue), markets and merchants (green) and settlements and kings (black). The game starts with ten isolated temple tiles already placed on the board. Players play tiles and leaders onto the board, creating and expanding regions and kingdoms.  Monuments may be built on the board when four tiles of the same color are played into a square pattern.

Two leaders of the same type can not coexist in the same kingdom.  Internal conflicts are caused by players adding a second leader of a type to a kingdom.  External conflicts are caused by players playing tiles to merge two existing kingdoms.

During the game, players [[Score (game)|collect points]] in each of the four colors as a result of playing tiles, resolving conflicts and controlling monuments. After the final round each player sorts his or her points by color, including any "treasures" which they have acquired, which count as any color the player wishes. In order to limit specialization the player with the most points in their weakest category wins.

For example:
*Alice has 6 black, 8 red, 12 green and 12 blue points; thus has a score of 6.
*Bob has 9 black, 10 red, 7 green and 15 blue points; thus has a score of 7.
*Charlie has 14 black, 14 red, 5 green and 20 blue points; thus has a score of 5.

Players must balance their scoring and avoid overspecializing.  Knizia later used this mechanism as the basis for [[Ingenious (board game)|Ingenious]].

==Reception==
[[Thomas Lehmann]] comments: "If you are looking for a tactically rich, intense strategy game with lots of conflict (unusual in a German game), try ''Tigris & Euphrates'' and see why so many players consider this game Reiner Knizia's masterpiece."<ref name="HG">{{Cite book | contribution=Tigris & Euphrates | title=Hobby Games: The 100 Best | last=Lehmann | first=Tom | authorlink=Thomas Lehmann | editor-last=Lowder | editor-first=James | editor-link=James Lowder | publisher=[[Green Ronin Publishing]] | year=2007 | pages=319-321 | isbn=978-1-932442-96-0}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{bgg|42|''Tigris and Euphrates''|19419|the card game version}}
* Free, licensed [http://www.gametableonline.com/gameinfo.php?gid=11 online version] at [http://www.gametableonline.com/ GameTable Online]

{{Deutscher Spiele Preis winners}}

[[Category:Board games introduced in 1997]]
[[Category:Deutscher Spiele Preis winners]]
[[Category:Hans im Glück games]]
[[Category:Historical board games]]
[[Category:Mayfair Games games]]
[[Category:Reiner Knizia games]]
[[Category:Tile-laying board games]]