- BGG rank
- BGG #17,304
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Paras
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2019
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- BGG rating
- 6.6
Foundation
2012
Rules assistance for Foundation
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 15–30 min
- 5+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Foundation
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Foundation is a board game released in 2012 for 1–2 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 5 and up. It was designed by Gavin Birnbaum and Rafi Arkin and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
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About the game
Foundation is an abstract two-player game in which players place their pieces onto a grid board. Points are scored according to the number of existing pieces in contact with the piece already played, irrespective of color. Additionally, the four corner spaces and the central square are marked with a dot; pieces played over these dots score one extra point. Each player has 14 pieces: straights, zig zags, "U" shapes, and corners of varying sizes. The pieces must be placed right side up, which is indicated by a groove carved into the top of the pieces. This often leads to difficult decisions needing to be made as to how to get the majority of your pieces onto the board while maximizing the points scored for each piece and also preventing your opponent from getting his pieces onto the board. Scoring is recorded using wooden pegs and one track for each player with 0-9 & 0-50 holes in the border of the board. For each piece left at the end of the game, two points are deducted from a player's score.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Cubiko Games
Questions and answers
Foundation supports 1–2 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 Foundation is 15–30 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 Foundation for ages 5 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.
Foundation has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Foundation belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are 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 Foundation are: Gavin Birnbaum and Rafi Arkin. 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 Foundation 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.