- BGG rank
- BGG #15,283
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Pole Position
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,075
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Anno 1452
1999
Rules assistance for Anno 1452
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Anno 1452
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Anno 1452 is a board game released in 1999 for 2–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Gerhard E. Kodys and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
A game about the consolidating of power in the Holy Roman Empire in 1452. Players attempt to gain victory points through a variety of sources. In a system that has similarities to El Grande, players have a limited number of actions each turn to place resources into territories on a map. Going beyond El Grande, the game provides several different types of resources to manage and also gives players several different ways of undermining other players' positions. One element that stands out is a balancing mechanism where the weakest player each turn is crowned king and is given several benefits. The weak player then has a strong military advantage in getting a better position in the game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Piatnik
Questions and answers
Anno 1452 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 Anno 1452 is 90 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 Anno 1452 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.
Anno 1452 has a complexity rating of 2.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Anno 1452 belongs to these categories: Territory Building and Medieval. 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 Anno 1452 are: Gerhard E. Kodys. 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 Anno 1452 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.