- BGG rank
- BGG #4,226
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Senators
- 3–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,194
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Dreaming Spires
2014
Rules assistance for Dreaming Spires
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Dreaming Spires
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dreaming Spires is a board game released in 2014 for 3–5 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jeremy Hogan and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Tile Placement.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,025
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Slyville
- 3–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,095
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition
- 1–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,277
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Merchants of Amsterdam
- 3–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2000
- BGG rank
- BGG #953
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Vegas Showdown
- 3–5 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #724
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Archipelago
- 2–5 players
- 30–240 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #996
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Art Society
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,118
- BGG rating
- 6.6
O Zoo le Mio
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #300
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Foundations of Rome
- 1–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #445
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Akropolis
- 1–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #255
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Suburbia
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,259
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Foundations of Metropolis
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2024
About the game
Lead an Oxford college from the medieval era through to the modern day. The eccentric characters and tumultuous events of Oxford's history are brought to life in cards, featuring original illustrations, famous quotes and amusing written accounts. In Dreaming Spires, players each build a college of Oxford University out of building tiles placed according to simple rules. Tiles display whole icons and half and quarter icons, which can be placed next to one another to complete whole ones. These icons represent the benefits of your college: Beauty, Academics, Status and Sociability. Famous men and women of Oxford can be admitted to your college if it has the relevant benefits to attract them. These scholars can be used to increase the reputation of your college directly in their subjects but also indirectly using their unique special abilities. Each turn there is an historical event pitting the colleges against one another in various activities for a reward. The winner becomes Chancellor and leads play for the following turn. The college, which has the greatest reputation at the end of the game is the winner. This is calculated from the scoreboard with an innovative scoring system that leaves ample room for different strategies to succeed and keeps everyone in with a chance till the end!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Game Salute
- The Secret Games Company
Questions and answers
Dreaming Spires 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 Dreaming Spires is 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 Dreaming Spires 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.
Dreaming Spires has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Dreaming Spires belongs to these categories: Medieval, City Building, and Age of Reason. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Tile Placement. 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 Dreaming Spires are: Jeremy Hogan. 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 Dreaming Spires 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.