- BGG rank
- BGG #8,212
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Heir to the Pharaoh
- 2 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,635
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Gearworks
2018
Rules assistance for Gearworks
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Gearworks
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gearworks is a board game released in 2018 for 1–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kirk Dennison and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Set Collection.
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About the game
Gearworks is a puzzle-style board game featuring card placement, hand management, and a "twist" on area control. The game is often described as "Sudoku meets steampunk." Strategically position your gears to fix a mysterious clockwork machine in the corner of the workshop. Collect parts created by the machine each round by being the last player to fix its various components. As a tinkerer, you can certainly put those parts to good use and create fantastical contraptions! Will the other tinkerers sabotage your efforts or will you earn the workshop owner's favor and become the master tinkerer? —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Lotus Frog Games
- PieceKeeper Games
Questions and answers
Gearworks 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 Gearworks is 30–45 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 Gearworks 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.
Gearworks 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.
Gearworks belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Set Collection. 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 Gearworks are: Kirk Dennison. 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 Gearworks 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.