- BGG rank
- BGG #26,104
- BGG rating
- 5.6
CrackeD ICE
- 2–5 players
- 1 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,717
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Branches and Twigs and Thorns
2002
Rules assistance for Branches and Twigs and Thorns
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
Rules assistant for Branches and Twigs and Thorns
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Branches and Twigs and Thorns is a board game released in 2002 for 2–6 players and 15 minutes per game. It was designed by Andrew Plotkin and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
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About the game
Branches and Twigs and Thorns (or "Barsoomite Go") is an elegant little strategy game for two or four players that uses Icehouse pieces and a chessboard, and a collection of tokens (at least ten per player). It is a turn-based game, unlike Icehouse or IceTowers; and there is no luck involved. Like Martian Go, Players seek to build chains of pieces of their own color and to force their opponents to branch of from opposing pieces of their opponent's colors, which results in a penalty determined by the sizes of the pieces involved. Online Play Abstract Play
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Looney Labs
Questions and answers
Branches and Twigs and Thorns 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 Branches and Twigs and Thorns is 15 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.
Branches and Twigs and Thorns has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Branches and Twigs and Thorns belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. 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 Branches and Twigs and Thorns are: Andrew Plotkin. 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 Branches and Twigs and Thorns 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.