
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Die California Extrakarte
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2006

2006
Rules assistance for California
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
California is a board game released in 2006 for 2–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Market.
From the back of the box: Who doesn't dream of owning a large Mansion in the sun-drenched hills of California? But before you can furnish the house according to your wishes the interior must be renovated. Just as you have completed furnishing the first rooms you curious neighbors begin to drop by, some bearing housewarming gifts. A good thing too ... because victory will go to the one with the most beautifully renovated house and the largest collection of gifts. Description of the game from La Tana dei Goblin: Players have inherited a small amount of money and a house on the sunny hills of California. Unluckily the house is in a very bad condition. It will be to the players make it habitable again: renewing the rooms with the most exclusive furniture. Better and more friendly will be the house, more neighbors will come bringing presents and friendship. During the game the players could take money from the bank or buy tiles from the shops to place in the house. Before furnishing a room and welcoming people they have to renovate the room. Bonus cards could be gained being the first to furnish the rooms with particular combination of objects. It will be always possible to get loans ... At the end of the game (the 12th day) every player will score points for every present, every bonus card and every renovated room in their house. After paying debts the player with the most victory points will be the winner.
California 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 California 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 California 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.
California has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
California belongs to these categories: Economic. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Tile Placement, and Market. 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 California are: Michael Schacht. 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 California 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.