- BGG rank
- BGG #4,409
- BGG rating
- 7.2
I C E
- 1–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,339
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Founders
2026
Rules assistance for Founders
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 35–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for Founders
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Founders is a board game released in 2026 for 2–5 players, 35–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Sams and Bragou and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Team-Based Game, and Hidden Roles.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,387
- BGG rating
- 7.5
I C E: Second Edition
- 1–5 players
- 75–120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,134
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Arctica
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2027
- BGG rank
- BGG #635
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Betrayal Legacy
- 3–5 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,877
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Nautilus
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,578
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Saboteur
- 3–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #275
- BGG rating
- 7.6
My City
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,886
- BGG rating
- 7.3
My Island
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,057
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Once Upon a Line
- 1–5 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #168
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Planet Unknown
- 1–6 players
- 60–80 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #303
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Anno 1800: The Board Game
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,031
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Caylus 1303
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2019
About the game
In the midst of a windswept, snowy landscape, a group of explorers discover a gigantic cave with a massive structure that radiates out from it. Around this Hearth, the Master Founders lay the foundation for what will become The City, home to the powerful Guilds of I C E! Following the directives of the first Founders' Council on the Design of the City, as well as the Requests of the first Guilds, you will design and create this famous City from scratch! Founders is a strategic and innovative game of tile placement where each player is in a hidden alliance with 2 other players they don't know. Each player has two design objectives. You must arrange your tiles to achieve objectives, help you hidden allies, but avoiding giving too much information to your opponents. There is a cooperative scoring system, but only 1 player can win. —description from the publisher
Categories
Publishers
- This Way!
Questions and answers
Founders 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 Founders is 35–60 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 Founders 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.
Founders has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Founders belongs to these categories: Exploration and City Building. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Team-Based Game, and Hidden Roles. 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 Founders are: Sams and Bragou. 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 Founders 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.