- BGG rank
- BGG #1,800
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Catacombs
- 2–5 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2010
- BGG rating
- 9.0
Rules assistance for Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- 14+
Rules assistant for Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion is an expansion for Catacombs (Third Edition) released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ryan Amos, Marc Kelsey, and Aron West and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Role Playing.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,916
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Catacombs & Castles
- 2–8 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #4
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Gloomhaven
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #12
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,934
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Magic Realm
- 1–16 players
- 60–240 min
- Complexity 4.6/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #793
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Conan
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #234
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- 1–5 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #629
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Mansions of Madness
- 2–5 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #636
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Descent: Journeys in the Dark
- 2–5 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #711
- BGG rating
- 7.2
HeroQuest
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1989
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,461
- BGG rating
- 7.3
HeroQuest Advanced Quest
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1990
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,482
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Dungeon Saga: Dwarf King's Quest
- 2–5 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2015
About the game
This entry is both an upgrade to Catacombs (Third Edition) and adds new content from the 2018 Kickstarter campaign. This exclusive Upgrade version of Catacombs 3E (not available at retail) includes: Six double-sided neoprene playmats instead of the game boards in the retail version of Catacombs 3E The new “Kallax shelf” friendly extra large box and two organizing trays instead of the single organizing tray in the retail version The new wall system including custom plastic stands The fully revised and updated 36 page Reference manual The new 40 page Tutorial manual The new large obstacle pieces The six, double-sided playmats included with this set: Campfire | Stone Altar (from the Catacombs 3E base game) Lava Tube | Root Cellar (from the Catacombs 3E base game) Mausoleum | Throne Room (from the Catacombs 3E base game) Scavewyrm Pit | Forthstron River (the playmat that accompanies the Wyldlands expansion) Wild Woodlands | Poisonwood Bridge (from the Wyverns of Wylemuir expansion) Ice Cavern / Quartz Grotto (the playmat that accompanies Resurrection Packs 1 & 2. Note: the game board version is called Resurrection Pack 3) Includes the components and rulebooks (where applicable) for the following Catacombs expansions, packed inside the upgrade box: Ice Box (Elzra exclusive) Wyldlands (Elzra exclusive)
Designers
Publishers
- Elzra
Questions and answers
Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion 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 Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion is 60–90 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 Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion 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.
Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Role Playing. 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 Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion are: Ryan Amos, Marc Kelsey, and Aron West. 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 Catacombs (Third Edition): Playmat Upgrade and Expansion as an expansion for Catacombs (Third Edition). Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Catacombs (Third Edition) to use it. Check that your edition of Catacombs (Third Edition) is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.