
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,909
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Cubus
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1987

1984
Rules assistance for Arbora
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Arbora is a board game released in 1984 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reinhold Wittig and Rolf Asche and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
Arbora is a tile-laying game with a (very thin) environmental theme. The 36 tiles depict silhouettes of different kinds of leaves or branches, four on each one (one per side). These are placed on a 6x6 grid in an effort to complete 2x2 squares and rows of 6 (both of which get you points). Since each picture has only one match, so once one tile is placed on the board (which is randomly done to start the game), the entire layout is determined, and players simply can choose (so far as their draws let them) when to play which tile(s). ______________________ The second edition from 1986 is part of the Franckh-Kosmos/ 'Edition Perlhuhn' series.
Arbora 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 Arbora is 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 Arbora 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.
Arbora has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Arbora belongs to these categories: Environmental. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement. 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 Arbora are: Reinhold Wittig and Rolf Asche. 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 Arbora 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.