
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,989
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Princess
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1986

1998
Rules assistance for Caves & Claws
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Caves & Claws is a board game released in 1998 for 1–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Jim Deacove and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Modular Board, and Cooperative Game.
From the Box: The museum hires a team of Archaeologists to head deep into a Jungle to find Ancient Artifacts. We are that team, ready for action and adventure! CAVES & CLAWS is a fantasy game, featuring elements of suspense, careful planning, teamwork, danger and humor. The game has three parts. First, we have to hack out the Paths to the abandoned Caves and Temples, secondly, using the connected paths, we search for and discover the Treasures. Finally we must return safely to Base Camp with what we gathered. There are Dangers and Obstacles to avoid such as The Creeping Claw, The Nasty Hairy Thing and Big Boulders rolling over Entrances! We may have to resort to whatever desperate Remedy we find in our knapsacks to save us - a Super HeadNet, a Laser Lantern, a Piece of Broccoli, even a Smelly Sock! Yes, few creatures can face the Sock! Contents: Jungle Map 12" x 12" Pathways (12) Movers (4) Tent Card A Set of Ancient Treasure (8), Danger (10), and Remedy Cards (5) Rules for Regular and Hard Games
Caves & Claws 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 Caves & Claws 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 Caves & Claws for ages 6 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.
Caves & Claws has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Caves & Claws belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Humor, and Children's Game. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Modular Board, and Cooperative Game. 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 Caves & Claws are: Jim Deacove. 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 Caves & Claws 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.