- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
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Number Rings
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1976
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4 the Birds
2016
Rules assistance for 4 the Birds
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for 4 the Birds
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
4 the Birds is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Steve Ewoldt and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
4 the Birds is the board game in which you will use beak-and-taloned strategy as well as a peck of luck to be the first to "flock" four of your birds together in a tree besieged by a menagerie of other birds trying to do the same. By constantly balancing the goal of flocking your own birds and "Flock-Blocking" opponents' birds, a see-saw battle for avian supremacy ensues — and beware the non-player bird-baddies (crows and hawks) that can swoop in to un-nest a would-be winner. Gameplay is simple. Each player rolls two dice on their turn to indicating coordinates on the game board grid (the tree) to place and move your six birds on the board. Each turn a player has the choice to place a bird at the rolled coordinate or play one of seven Action Cards as they work to achieve the winning formation of a four bird flock (either a square or straight line on the grid). Fast and easy to learn and play Finely balanced mix of luck and strategy Territorial disputes between birds is resolved via novel "Pecking Order" Introduces a unique slide mechanic when birds vie for the same spot on the boards Non-player spoiler-birds (crows and hawks) add unique obstacles as well as chain-reaction board-reorganizing sliding and scattering Truly an abstract "gateway" game that's great for kids' spatial and numerical skills (and even better for adults who are out of practice)
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- Breaking Games
Questions and answers
4 the Birds supports 2–6 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 4 the Birds is 20–30 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 4 the Birds for ages 8 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.
4 the Birds has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light 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.
4 the Birds belongs to these categories: Animals, Number, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Area Majority / Influence. 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 4 the Birds are: Steve Ewoldt. 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 4 the Birds 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.