Circus Maximus
2–10 players • Battleline Publications • 1979
- Publisher
- Battleline Publications · Avalon Hill
- First published
- 1979
- Players
- 2–10 players
How it plays
Circus Maximus plays 2–10 players.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Circus Maximus was published in 1979 by Battleline Publications, a company known for its focus on historical and tactical wargames during the late 1970s. Designed by Brent Speelman, the game was intended to simulate the intense and often brutal chariot races of ancient Rome, moving away from conventional military strategy to focus on maneuver, sabotage, and endurance. It captured the popular imagination of the era by blending board game mechanics with a visceral, high-stakes athletic theme.
The design of Circus Maximus is noted for its track-based movement system, which forces players to balance speed with the risk of collisions and chariot degradation. The game utilized a hex-grid layout to represent the Circus Maximus, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the sport. Upon its release, it was well-received by the hobbyist community for its ability to recreate the feeling of a chariot race without becoming overly bogged down in excessive complexity, eventually becoming a cult classic that paved the way for later sports-simulation board games.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2–10 players • Battleline Publications • 1979. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Circus Maximus?
Circus Maximus is a board game for 2–10 players. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Circus Maximus for?
Circus Maximus is built for 2–10 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
Who publishes Circus Maximus?
Circus Maximus is published by Battleline Publications and Avalon Hill. The catalog gives its publication year as 1979.
How many collectors track Circus Maximus on collecto.rs?
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