Santorini: Riddle of the Sphinx — Cooperative Expansion by Roxley | Ages 8+ | 20 Minutes

Overview

Santorini: Riddle of the Sphinx is a cooperative, book-based expansion by Roxley that transforms the classic competitive Santorini into a shared, story-driven expedition. Players read through a collection of puzzling scenarios and work together to guide their team toward safety across the Greek Isles. The expansion requires a base Santorini set to play and invites both new and seasoned players to explore a distinct, narrative-driven twist on the familiar island construction.

The experience blends familiar Santorini tactics with fresh challenges, emphasizing teamwork, planning, and flexible adaptation. You’ll feel the weight of each decision as you balance movement, placement, and timing, all while chasing a cohesive objective rather than competing for dominance. The setup is designed for quick entry, so you can start collaborating within moments and discover how different choices shape the outcome.

What makes it unique

• Cooperative gameplay that scales for solo play or groups, focusing on a shared mission rather than competition.
• New mechanisms such as resource management, tower defense, and boss encounters that deepen strategic options without changing the core grid-based play you know from Santorini.
• Each session contributes to a broader adventure, with progress tracked through achievements and evolving powers to unlock in subsequent games.

Key mechanics

• Resource management adds a layer of scarcity and planning to each turn.
• Tower defense elements introduce spatial control and timing decisions.
• Occasional boss battles bring dramatic, team-based challenges to the core experience.

Inside the box and what you’ll explore

• New miniatures, cards, tokens, and boards designed to support the 22 beautifully illustrated maps that drive the overarching adventure.
• Vibrant art and production quality that enhance immersion and help track game progression.
• Achievements recorded after each game unlock new powers for players to explore in future sessions, increasing replayability and variety.

Adventure mode, setup, and accessibility

Adventure Mode offers a drop-in, lightning-fast start so you can jump into action in seconds. The design prioritizes accessibility while preserving strategic depth, making it easy to introduce friends and family to a cooperative narrative without a lengthy setup.

Suitable for ages 8 and up, the game typically runs around 20 minutes, making it a flexible option for a quick family night, a busy game room session, or a dedicated puzzle-focused session. While not a guarantee of outcomes, the cooperative framework supports a range of play styles and group sizes, inviting players to discover which strategies work best for their team.