A shadow falls over the city of Thebes. The once-mighty king Oedipus, now blind and aged, has stepped down in disgrace, leaving his sons Polynices and Eteocles to share the burden of rule. But sibling rivalry and the thirst for power soon ignite conflict. Polynices raises an army from Argos, setting his sights on his own brother, while Eteocles struggles to maintain control with the support of Thebes’ noble houses.

In Thebai, players take on the roles of influential leaders from Thebes’ noble families during the turbulent late Bronze Age. Their mission is to restore the city’s former glory by rebuilding the Cadmea, managing essential exports, honoring the gods, and protecting the citizens—all while rival heroes clash violently at the city’s gates.

The game is played over 10 rounds, each split into an Action phase and a Fate phase. During the Action phase, players assign their Citizen die to carry out important tasks and then move their Archon around the Cadmea, making strategic choices that influence the city’s development. In the Fate phase, players can earn extra points based on their achievements and success in defending the gates. After the final round, the player with the highest number of Victory Points is declared the most respected leader of Thebes.