
- BGG rating
- 7.9
2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt Expansion Set
- 3–6 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2013

1995
Rules assistance for 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt is a board game released in 1995 for 3–6 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Thomas Lehmann and James Hlavaty and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Network and Route Building, and Pick-up and Deliver.
2038 is a space mining adaptation of the 18xx series of games. First, you have the ever important stock trading rounds followed by operating rounds where you try to deliver commodities mined from the asteroid belt. Instead of laying track, the players explore the asteroid belt and lay claims to various mining resources. During operation rounds, ships move from mine to mine limited only by their fuel and the players' refueling stations. Operation is thus more flexible than in most 18xx games, and the randomly generated map greatly increases replay value.
2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt supports 3–6 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 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt is 360 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 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt for ages 14 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.
2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt 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.
2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Network and Route Building, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt are: Thomas Lehmann and James Hlavaty. 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 2038: Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt 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.