- BGG rank
- BGG #11,932
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Dameo
- 2 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2000
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,965
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Emergo
1986
Rules assistance for Emergo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 3.7/5
Rules assistant for Emergo
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Emergo is a board game released in 1986 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Christian Freeling and Ed van Zon and its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,418
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Grand Chess
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,134
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Havannah
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1980
- BGG rank
- BGG #485
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Honey Buzz
- 1–4 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,573
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend
- 1–4 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,698
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,794
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Battlestations
- 2–8 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,962
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Bismarck (Second Edition)
- 2 players
- 150–240 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1978
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,481
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Dominate & Delegate
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,330
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Godsfire
- 2–15 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1976
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,372
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Gettysburg
- 2 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1958
- BGG rank
- BGG #317
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Santorini
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2016
About the game
Emergo can be played on the black squares of a 9×9 checkered board (with black squares in the corners) using two sets of 12 stackable checkers. There are two phases to the game, placement and move & capture. During placement, each player takes turns placing one piece on the board, unless a capture is available, which immediately takes precedence. Pieces may not be placed such that they force an immediate capture unless there is already a capture threat elsewhere or there is no choice but to place a piece in jeopardy. The last player places all of his/her remaining pieces on the board at once in one tall "shadow" piece. Players control stacks when their piece is on top. In the movement & capture phase, players move one piece one square at a time to the next square (only on the black squares -- connectivity is four) or capture (mandatory when possible) the top piece of a stack under the bottom of another stack by jumping over it. Jumps can be repeated, and maximal captures are mandatory. The first player unable to move loses. As originally published the game used a hexagonal grid.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- GAMES Magazine
Questions and answers
Emergo supports 2 players 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 Emergo is 45 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 Emergo for ages 8 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.
Emergo has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Emergo belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Emergo are: Christian Freeling and Ed van Zon. 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 Emergo 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.