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Overview
Hippocrates is a strategy-based board game designed by Alain Orban and published by Game Brewer. Set in ancient Greece, players take on the roles of successors to Hippocrates, striving to manage a medical practice by hiring doctors, treating patients, and efficiently managing resources. The game blends elements of worker placement, resource management, and tableau-building into an engaging experience.
With a playtime of approximately 90–120 minutes and supporting 1–4 players, Hippocrates is a medium-weight Eurogame that challenges players to make critical decisions while balancing efficiency and economic sustainability. The game boasts high-quality components and a compelling theme that immerses players in the challenges of early medicine.
How to Play
Hippocrates is played over four rounds, each representing a month in the ancient medical practice. Each round consists of five distinct phases:
1. Patient Admission – Players bid to attract patients to their practice. Each patient has different ailments and payment offerings, but if left untreated for too long, they may worsen or leave in anger.
2. Doctor Recruitment – Players hire doctors from different regions, each possessing unique abilities and expertise. Doctors must be paid and supplied with medicine to effectively treat patients.
3. Treatment & Medicine Management – Players assign doctors to patients, ensuring they have the right medicine to perform treatments. Successfully treated patients provide rewards, while failure results in penalties.
4. Reputation & Scoring – Reputation plays a crucial role, influencing turn order and bonus rewards. Players earn points based on successful treatments, doctor efficiency, and strategic planning.
5. End of Round Maintenance – Players refresh their roster, acquire new resources, and prepare for the next round.
At the end of four rounds, the player with the most victory points wins, reflecting the most successful and reputable medical practice.
Review
Hippocrates stands out due to its seamless blend of thematic storytelling and strategic decision-making. The game beautifully captures the essence of ancient medicine, emphasizing the difficulty of managing a growing practice with limited resources. The balance between economy, reputation, and efficiency keeps every turn engaging and thought-provoking.
The game's components, including high-quality wooden tokens, thick cardboard tiles, and stunning artwork, contribute to its premium feel. The board design is intuitive, and the iconography is clear, making it easy to track progress and plan ahead.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Hippocrates is its tense decision-making process. Players must carefully weigh their choices—whether to take on a risky patient for a high reward, invest in more skilled doctors, or focus on maximizing reputation. This depth ensures high replayability, as each game unfolds differently based on strategic choices and random patient availability.
The game also scales well across different player counts, offering a satisfying experience in both solo and multiplayer modes. The solo mode is particularly well-designed, providing a challenging AI opponent that mirrors human decision-making strategies.
Five Things to Like
1. Rich Theme & Immersion – The game does an excellent job of transporting players to ancient Greece, with mechanics that feel natural to the setting.
2. Strategic Depth – There are multiple paths to victory, requiring players to adapt their strategy based on available resources and competition.
3. High-Quality Components – Beautiful artwork, sturdy components, and well-designed pieces enhance the gaming experience.
4. Balanced Player Interaction – The game incorporates indirect competition through bidding and reputation mechanics, keeping interaction engaging without being overly confrontational.
5. Engaging Solo Mode – The AI offers a strong challenge, making solo play a rewarding experience.
Five Things to Not Like
1. Learning Curve – The game’s multiple mechanics and decision points can be overwhelming for new players, requiring a few playthroughs to grasp fully.
2. Downtime in Multiplayer – At higher player counts, decision-making can slow down, leading to occasional downtime.
3. Limited Doctor Variety – While there are several doctors available, after multiple plays, the selection can start to feel repetitive.
4. Patient Punishment System – The penalty for failing to treat patients can feel harsh, sometimes creating a snowball effect for struggling players.
5. Managing non-players – When playing at lower player count (e.g. 2 players), managing the non-player components can distract you enough to influence your planning, thus needing more time to rethink what you should be focusing on in the next round.
Final Verdict
Hippocrates is an excellent choice for fans of strategic Eurogames who enjoy resource management and careful planning. While it has a moderate learning curve, the rewarding gameplay and immersive theme make it a worthwhile investment. If you're looking for a game that balances historical storytelling with deep decision-making, Hippocrates is a fantastic addition to your collection.
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