Garphill Games fans, clear some shelf space. The Great Sea, a new dice-placement game of Phoenician sea trade and naval muscle, has opened for retail pre-order through Renegade Game Studios, with a September 2026 release. It was revealed alongside its companion title during Renegade's June reveal stream.
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Find events near youIf you have played anything from Garphill Games, you know the drill: tight action selection and a points race that stays close to the end. This is the studio behind the West Kingdom and South Tigris euro trilogies, and The Great Sea sees them sailing into the ancient Mediterranean. You take charge of one of the great Phoenician city-states, Tyre, Sidon, Byblos or Arwad, and compete to dominate the waves.
On your turn you construct and mobilise ships, fortify trade routes, and research new technologies for land and sea. Upgrading your fleet lets you push more goods and seize temple sites, and the game ends when your temple marker lines up with either your combat or your trade marker, so there are two different paths to victory. It is a game for up to four players, priced at $60 in the US.
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See how it worksThe Great Sea is one half of Garphill's new Ancient Anthology, paired with the island-defence game Towers of Sifnos. Both were funded through Garphill's own Kickstarter earlier in 2026, and Renegade is now handling the retail run for players who missed the campaign.
If you have a strategy group that loves a chunky euro, this is one to watch for autumn. Time to round up your table for the autumn.
Sources: Renegade Game Studios | Renegade Con recap | Kickstarter
