- BGG rank
- BGG #13,449
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Ars Mysteriorum
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,460
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Crystal Faire
2006
Rules assistance for Crystal Faire
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 120 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Crystal Faire
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Crystal Faire is a board game released in 2006 for 3–5 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Alan D. Ernstein and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
In a round, the first player makes two offers of four to six marbles to the other players. Each of the other players make a counter offer. The first player then picks one of the counter offers, and the person whose offer they picked then chooses one of the first bidders offers. They then exchange marbles. This leads to a round where the amounts that each color is worth. Whomever bids the highest wins the amount of cash that the color is worth. The person with the highest amount of cash at the end of the game is the winner.
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Questions and answers
Crystal Faire supports 3–5 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 Crystal Faire is 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 Crystal Faire for ages 10 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.
Crystal Faire has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Crystal Faire belongs to these categories: Bluffing and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding. 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 Crystal Faire are: Alan D. Ernstein. 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 Crystal Faire 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.