- BGG rank
- BGG #5,445
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Dustrunner
- 1 player
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Rules assistance for Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1 player
- 15–20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 is an expansion for Desolate released in 2018 for 1 player, 15–20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jason Glover and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Dark Matters Pack 1 is an 18 card booster expansion for the critically acclaimed solo game Desolate. You will need a copy of Desolate to use this booster. What comes in Dark Matters Pack 1? 2 Exploration Cards - The Sanctuary and Cold Storage introduce an all-new affliction mechanic. 3 Conflict Cards - These nasty new conflict cards also can cause you to gain an affliction. 4 Affliction Cards - These cards cause the player to suffer from a phobia. Each phobia messes with the game mechanics in a unique way. 3 Character Cards - Character cards are optional cards that add theme and help set a difficulty level for play. 5 Item Cards - New items to increase the replay level of the game and add some twists. 1 Setup Card - A simple instruction card to explain the new cards in detail.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Grey Gnome Games
Questions and answers
Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 is 15–20 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 Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 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.
Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Dice, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Dice Rolling. 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 Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 are: Jason Glover. 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 Desolate: Dark Matters Pack 1 as an expansion for Desolate. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Desolate to use it. Check that your edition of Desolate is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.