
- BGG rank
- BGG #887
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Startups
- 3–7 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2017

2019
Rules assistance for Fafnir
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fafnir is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Jun Sasaki and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding.
The chicken "Fafnir" lays two new gems each day, and all the players want to acquire these gems on the off chance that they'll be more valuable than the gems they already hold. Whoever throws away the most gems in a round acquires these two newest gems — but you can't throw away the colors of the gems that Fafnir just laid! No chicken will be impressed by you shaming the gems that you're also trying to acquire! Once a certain number of stones have been discarded in Fafnir, the round ends, and everyone scores for the gems that they've collected. Gold is worth 1 point each no matter how many have been collected, so go for gold if you want to play it safe. As for the five colors of gems, whichever one appears most frequently is worth 3 points each, while the secondmost frequent color gem is worth 2 points each, and all other gems are worth -1 point each.
Fafnir supports 2–4 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 Fafnir 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 Fafnir for ages 9 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.
Fafnir has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
The main mechanics of Fafnir are Auction / Bidding. Mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns, such as rolling dice, drafting cards or placing workers. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you enjoyed Fafnir and want something comparable.
The credited designers of Fafnir are: Jun Sasaki. 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 Fafnir 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.