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- BGG #65
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Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,599
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Backwoods
2021
Rules assistance for Backwoods
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Backwoods
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Backwoods is a board game released in 2021 for 1–4 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ryan K Williams and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
The year is 1830. You and your crew were on an expedition across the Rocky Mountains. You made it to the Colorado River where canoeing seemed a good option. The rapids disagreed. Now, those of you who survived must combine your skills to explore, forage, craft, and fight your way out of a tainted wilderness. Backwoods is a cooperative survival adventure for 1-4 players. Brimming with player agency, high interaction, and fork-in-the-road moments, you'll need to manage your resources and decide when to press your luck if you are to complete the expedition's goals and make it back to the Fort alive. Grab your flintlock pistol and decide what kind of Pioneer you are in Backwoods. —description from the publisher
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- Most High Design
Questions and answers
Backwoods supports 1–4 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 Backwoods is 60–120 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 Backwoods 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.
Backwoods has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Backwoods belongs to these categories: Adventure and American West. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 Backwoods are: Ryan K Williams. 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 Backwoods 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.