Imperial Settlers: Atlanteans

The Atlanteans expansion rewires the core tempo of Imperial Settlers, introducing a faction that lives and dies by the mid-game. Their signature technology tokens let players upgrade common buildings, but the real twist is the vanishing act: Atlantean faction cards don’t score at end-game. This forces a sharp pivot from the usual long-game engine-building—veterans who’ve internalized the base game’s rhythms will find themselves scrambling to extract points before the tide comes in. After years in the collection, this box still earns its keep as a proving ground for experienced groups who want to break out of autopilot and test their adaptability. From a logistics standpoint, Atlanteans is a model of expansion design. The footprint is modest; everything slots into the base game box without fuss, and the only new physical element is the set of technology tokens. Setup and teardown are straightforward, so you’re not losing time to component sorting. With a 90-minute session time, this is a main event for the evening—too involved for a filler, but not so sprawling that it derails the schedule. The expansion’s physical demands are minimal, but the mental load is real; it’s best reserved for tables that want to dig in. Teaching Atlanteans is a procedural affair. The radical scoring shift—no end-game points from faction cards—requires a full explanation up front, and the technology token system needs a clear walkthrough. Once the first round is underway, you can usually step away to check on other tables, but expect to be called back for edge cases and timing questions. The competitive interaction is indirect but ever-present, keeping the table alert and engaged. For groups that have mastered the base game, this expansion is a deliberate challenge: it rewards those willing to unlearn old habits and embrace a riskier, more dynamic playstyle.