- BGG rank
- BGG #10,102
- BGG rating
- 6.3
West of Africa
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,832
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Atacama
2013
Rules assistance for Atacama
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Atacama
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Atacama is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Martin Schlegel and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence and Modular Board.
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About the game
It is the year 2020 … Excitement in the Atacama! Valuable mineral resources — gold, silver and copper — have been found in the 1,200 km long desert in Chile and Peru along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Several companies are already busy prospecting by erecting huge drilling rigs as the resources are deep under the surface. Due to security reasons, the drilling rigs cannot be installed too close to one another, so each new rig limits the possibilities for erecting new ones in the surrounding areas. What’s more, the mining rights have been limited by the government. The companies have received a concession for only two of the three commodities – and extracting the “wrong” type of commodity will result in penalties. Becoming rich is a difficult business, but the stakes are worthwhile. Atacama, part of Mücke Spiele’s “Edition Bohrtürme” series of games, is a tactical game for two or four players. (The second edition of the game includes a game board that allows you to play with three.) Online Play Yucata (turn-based)
Designers
Publishers
- Mücke Spiele
Questions and answers
Atacama 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 Atacama is 20 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 Atacama 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.
Atacama has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Atacama belongs to these categories: Economic, Abstract Strategy, and American West. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence and Modular Board. 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 Atacama are: Martin Schlegel. 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 Atacama 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.