- BGG rating
- 7.8
First in Flight: Pilot Pack
- 1–4 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,916
- BGG rating
- 7.4
First in Flight
2023
Rules assistance for First in Flight
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 45–75 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for First in Flight
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
First in Flight is a board game released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 45–75 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ben Rosset and Matthew O'Malley and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Push Your Luck.
Expansions
First in Flight: Stunt Pack
- 1–4 players
- 45–75 min
- 2026
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Formaggio
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2025
About the game
First in Flight is a push-your-luck, deck-building game about the race to early flight. Players take on the roles of the Wright Brothers, Samuel Langley, and other flight pioneers, racing to build and pilot the “flyers” that preceded modern airplanes. Each player’s flyer design is represented by a deck of cards that they can steadily improve and refine, and which may include unknown design flaws that threaten their success. Flying is a blackjack-style challenge to test a design, break new records, and gain experience -- hopefully without crashing. Then, players head back to the workshop to refine their flyers and improve their chances on future flights. There are dozens of available technologies, pilot skills, and friends in the field available for players to customize their own play style and strategy.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Maldito Games
- One Moment Games
- CrowD Games
- Schwerkraft-Verlag
- Happy Meeple Games
- Artana
Questions and answers
First in Flight 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 First in Flight is 45–75 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 First in Flight for ages 12 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.
First in Flight has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
First in Flight belongs to these categories: Racing, Industry / Manufacturing, and Aviation / Flight. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Push Your Luck. 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 First in Flight are: Ben Rosset and Matthew O'Malley. 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 First in Flight 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.