- BGG rank
- BGG #1,046
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Forbidden Island
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #616
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Forbidden Desert
2013
Rules assistance for Forbidden Desert
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Forbidden Desert
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Forbidden Desert is a board game released in 2013 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Matt Leacock and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Tile Placement.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,160
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Forbidden Sky
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,589
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Forbidden Jungle
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,006
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Vast: The Mysterious Manor
- 1–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,905
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Windward
- 1–5 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,512
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Sub Terra II: Inferno's Edge
- 1–6 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,898
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Deliverance
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,650
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Thunderbirds
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #101
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Arkham Horror: The Card Game (Revised Core Set)
- 1–4 players
- 45–180 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #484
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Unsettled
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #33
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- 1–2 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,643
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2026
About the game
Gear up for a thrilling adventure to recover a legendary flying machine buried deep in the ruins of an ancient desert city. You'll need to coordinate with your teammates and use every available resource if you hope to survive the scorching heat and relentless sandstorm. Find the flying machine and escape before you all become permanent artifacts of the forbidden desert! In Forbidden Desert, a thematic sequel to Forbidden Island, players take on the roles of brave adventurers who must throw caution to the wind and survive both blistering heat and blustering sand in order to recover a legendary flying machine buried under an ancient desert city. While featuring co-operative gameplay similar to Forbidden Island, Forbidden Desert is a fresh, new game based around an innovative set of mechanisms such as an ever-shifting board, individual resource management, and a unique method for locating the flying machine parts.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- ADC Blackfire Entertainment
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- Schmidt Spiele
- uplay.it edizioni
- AURUM, Inc.
- Reflexshop
- Competo / Marektoy
- Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd
- Gamewright
- White Goblin Games
- Cocktail Games
- FoxMind Israel
- Sovranti
Questions and answers
Forbidden Desert supports 2–5 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 Forbidden Desert 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 Forbidden Desert 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.
Forbidden Desert has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Forbidden Desert belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Adventure, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, 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 Forbidden Desert are: Matt Leacock. 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 Forbidden Desert 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.