Overview

Epigo is a two-player abstract strategy game where players anticipate their opponent’s moves to push their Epigon tiles off the board. Each player controls a set of numbered Epigon tiles on a shared grid board, using Order tiles to secretly plan three moves per turn. Orders are revealed simultaneously in priority sequence, with higher-numbered Orders moving first. The first player to capture three of their opponent’s Epigons by pushing them off the board wins.

Components

• 1 game board (grid)
• 4 sets of numbered tiles in different colors (each set = 16 tiles: 8 Epigons numbered 1-7 plus 1 blank X Epigon, and 8 Orders numbered 1-7 plus 1 blank)
• Variant Book (for advanced play)

Epigons

Epigons are the smaller tiles that belong on the board. Each set is numbered from 1 to 7, with an additional tile containing an X.

Orders

Orders are held in your hand and used to move your Epigons around the board. Each Order is linked to the Epigon that shares its color and number. The number on the Order indicates its priority – or when it gets to move its Epigon. The highest priority is 7, and the lowest is 1. Players select three of their Orders to use each turn. The arrows determine the direction the Epigon will move.

Note: The SLAM! Orders are only used when playing Variants.

Setup

Deployment

1. Each player chooses a color set.
2. Arrange your Epigons face down in any arrangement along your side of the board’s centerline.
3. Once both players have finished placing their Epigons on the board, flip the tiles face up.
4. Remove the X Epigons from the board – they will no longer be used. This will leave an empty space in each row of Epigons.
5. Your pieces are now deployed for play.

Turn Structure

Every turn starts with a Planning Step and ends with an Action Step.

Planning Step

Players can only move three Epigons each turn. During the Planning Step:

1. Decide which three Epigons you want to move.
2. Choose the direction in which each of those pieces will move and the sequence they will move in.
3. Lock in your choices by stacking your Orders and placing the stack in front of you.

In a stack of Orders, the top tile represents your first move, the second tile your second move, and the third tile your last move. The arrows on each Order must point in the direction you want the Epigon to move. Epigons can only move up, down, left, or right – but never diagonally.

Players build their stacks in secret. If you finish making your stack before your opponent, you can hide the top Order by placing an unused Order tile face down on top of the stack (with the icon showing). When both players say they are ready, proceed to the Action Step.

Action Step

1. Both players reveal the top Order in each stack. The Order with the highest priority (7 being the highest, 1 the lowest) moves its corresponding Epigon one space in the direction its arrows are pointing.
2. After the first Epigon moves, the player with the lower priority Order moves. If the Order corresponds to an Epigon not on the board, no move is made. Should both Orders show the same number, they cancel each other out and neither Epigon moves.
3. Next, each player reveals the second Order in their stacks. Again, the higher priority Order moves its Epigon first.
4. Repeat the process one more time with the third Order in your stacks.
5. At the end of the Action Step, return all of your Orders to your hand for the next turn.

Actions

Movement Rules

Whenever you move the Epigon shown on your Order, it will either SLIDE or attempt to PUSH one space in the direction shown – unless your Epigon is BLOCKED.

Slide

If an Epigon can be moved into an empty space, that move is called a SLIDE.

Super Slide: If an Epigon SLIDES into a space without touching the sides of an opponent’s Epigon, you may SLIDE your Epigon once more in the same direction. Corners touching do not count.

Push

If the space your Epigon is trying to move into is occupied by another Epigon, it attempts to PUSH into that space. However, a PUSH can be BLOCKED.

If your Epigon makes a successful PUSH, move it one space in the direction shown on your Order, pushing any Epigons in its path one space. This movement may push an Epigon off the board.

Block

To determine if a PUSH is BLOCKED, count the number of your Epigons and your opponent’s Epigons in the direction you are trying to move. Start with the Epigon trying to move, and continue counting until you reach an empty space or the board edge. If your opponent’s Epigons outnumber yours at any point while counting, the PUSH is BLOCKED. In that case, no Epigons move. Your own Epigons never block a PUSH.

Note: An Epigon’s number does not affect a PUSH. A 1 can PUSH a 7.

Capturing an Epigon

Whenever an Epigon SLIDES off or is PUSHED off the edge of the board, it is always Captured by its owner’s opponent. The first player to capture three of their opponent’s Epigons wins the game.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Winning

The first player to capture three of their opponent’s Epigons wins the game.

Drawing a Game

Situations might arise where both players wish to draw. A player may offer a draw to their opponent once during the Planning Step of each turn.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• If both Orders show the same number, they cancel each other out and neither Epigon moves.
• If the Order corresponds to an Epigon not on the board (already captured), no move is made. You may still need to use the Order to cancel one of your opponent’s moves.
• You can accidentally slide or push your own Epigon off the board – this gives your opponent a capture.
• As soon as any player captures three Epigons, the game ends immediately. You never get the chance to push your opponent’s Epigon off the board if they captured your third first.
• Super Slide only triggers when no opponent Epigon sides are touched (corners do not count).

Player Reference

Planning: Secretly stack 3 Orders (top = first move, bottom = last move)

Action: Reveal Orders simultaneously; higher priority moves first (7 > 6 > … > 1); same number = cancel

Movement: Slide (into empty space), Push (into occupied space, chain reaction), Block (opponent outnumbers in push direction)

Super Slide: Extra slide if no opponent Epigon sides touched

Capture: Epigon pushed/slid off board = captured by opponent

Win condition: First to capture 3 opponent Epigons