
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,576
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Master of Economy
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2010

2011
Rules assistance for 2019: The ARCTIC
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
2019: The ARCTIC is a board game released in 2011 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Andrzej Kurek and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Enclosure.
"Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, in agreement with Russia, warned USA to “keep their hands off the Arctic.” Despite the cover picture "2019: The Arctic" is an economic game, however some military aspect is also included. In the game, players manage mineral resource companies interested in exploration of the Arctic region. They aim to maximize their scores, expressed in points, by undertaking actions that give them specific benefits or weaken the position of competitors. The path to gain advantage over the competition is on one hand the investment policy that will provide a variety of resources, and on the other - controlling a large quantity of deposits of the same type, which will allow to dominate in a given segment of raw materials industry. The tool for achieving the goal and winning the game is shaping the internal and foreign policy of the Arctic region countries (Russia, Norway, the European Union, Canada, USA). In addition to that, China’s participation in the race for access to the Arctic resources is simulated in the game. Players may use their political powers to obtain subsidies from a given country’s budget and to secure their investments in mining platforms built on the sea behind the scenes. However, the main axis of the gameplay is exerting direct influence upon the policies of the countries by a wide range of political and economical actions taken on their behalf. STRONG NEGATIVE INTERACTION and NO LUCK FACTOR To be released at Essen 2011
2019: The ARCTIC supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 2019: The ARCTIC is 120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 2019: The ARCTIC for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
2019: The ARCTIC has a complexity rating of 4.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
2019: The ARCTIC belongs to these categories: Fighting, Economic, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Majority / Influence, and Enclosure. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 2019: The ARCTIC are: Andrzej Kurek. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 2019: The ARCTIC as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.