- BGG rank
- BGG #1,331
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Mint Works
- 1–4 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2017
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- BGG #13,998
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Area 1851
2015
Rules assistance for Area 1851
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Area 1851
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Area 1851 is a board game released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Justin Blaske and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
In Area 1851, you are one of the area's top five Tinkerers and you're looking to prove your grit to the citizens of this Wild West town. Each turn, players have to deal with and negotiate random events in the area, then continue the turn under those circumstances, by drawing Tinker cards to fill their hand up to five cards, then rolling dice to determine their resources for that turn. Players then spend those resources to build new Gadgets or augment their existing Gadgets with Modifications. These Gadgets and Modifications can then be Delivered to the townsfolk for Reputation. In addition players can choose to scrap cards from their hand, and pull them out of circulation. To assist them in their endeavor to build the best contraptions in the land, players utilize three Assistants that are granted one at a time as play progresses; activate the Assistants provides bonuses to the player from various locations around town. Players also have the opportunity to show their worthiness by picking up new Feat cards during their turn. Completing these Feats provide a nice boost in Reputation during, or even at the end of the game. Since it's hard to keep all your thoughts in one place as a tinker, players end the turn by passing their hands around the table to a neighbor. The player that has earned the most Reputation from Delivering Gadgets and accomplishing Feats wins!
Designers
Publishers
- Five24 Labs
- Game Salute
Questions and answers
Area 1851 supports 2–5 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 Area 1851 is 60 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 Area 1851 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.
Area 1851 has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Area 1851 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Real-time, and American West. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling. 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 Area 1851 are: Justin Blaske. 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 Area 1851 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.