- BGG rank
- BGG #184
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Cartographers
- 1–100 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,173
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Fantastic Trails
2025
Rules assistance for Fantastic Trails
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.7/5
Rules assistant for Fantastic Trails
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fantastic Trails is a board game released in 2025 for 1–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jordy Adan and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,334
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Rolling Ranch
- 1–20 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,160
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Stonespine Architects
- 1–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #459
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Cartographers Heroes
- 1–100 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,072
- BGG rating
- 7.3
FlipToons
- 1–4 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,410
- BGG rating
- 7.7
FlipToons: Season 2
- 1–4 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,115
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Zombicide: Gear Up
- 1–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,699
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Trudvang Legends
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,246
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Fibonachos
- 2–5 players
- 20–35 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,764
- BGG rating
- 6.6
1000?
- 2–5 players
- 5–12 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #17
- BGG rating
- 8.2
The Castles of Burgundy
- 2–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #449
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Takenoko
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2011
About the game
Fantastic Trails challenges you to help ants through the forest by creating valuable trails that will cover lots of ground, ideally picking up honeydew along the way. To set up, each player choose two of four random forest floor cards and places these cards in front of themselves. Shuffle the number and pattern decks separately. On a turn, reveal the top number and pattern card, placing them side by side. Each player can then write the indicated number in spaces showing the indicated pattern. Jokers are in each deck, allowing you to write the number of your choice in the indicated pattern or vice versa. An anteater is also in each deck, and if an anteater is revealed, no one writes anything that turn, and you reveal new cards. You start with four worker ants and can spend them to adjust the value of a number or let you write in any pattern you wish. If you finish a task written on a forest floor card, such as surrounding a space or filling a line or section, you receive the indicated bonus, some combination of worker ants, honeydew, and the ability to mark indicated spaces. After the number and pattern decks are empty, score points equal to your honeydew, then receive a new forest floor card. Do this again at the end of the second round, then after the third round score honeydew a third time, then score a trail on each card. To create a trail, mark a continuous line on each card through adjacent spaces with the numbers on this line being the same or one higher than the previous number; score points equal to the number of spaces covered.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
Questions and answers
Fantastic Trails supports 1–4 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 Fantastic Trails is 30 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 Fantastic Trails 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.
Fantastic Trails has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Fantastic Trails belongs to these categories: Animals and Territory Building. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. 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 Fantastic Trails are: Jordy Adan. 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 Fantastic Trails 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.