
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,059
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Barnyard Roundup
- 2–6 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2016

2019
Rules assistance for Guardian's Call
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Guardian's Call is a board game released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by James Hudson and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Set Collection.
There is danger in the West... Ferocious orcs are raiding and pillaging, and behind them comes the mighty dragon, Golianth. You are a Guardian, one of the five rival heroes sworn to defend the realm. The King has decreed that you must work together to send weapons and shields, search for ancient artifacts and call on the power of magical spells, all while bringing villagers to safety within the Castle. There are many Guardians, but there can only be one Guardian of the Realm, the leader who will lead their combined strength to victory. Bring the greatest resources to the Council and save the most villagers and you will be named the Guardian of the Realm. Overview Guardian’s Call is a bluffing and deduction game for 2-5 players. Each player takes the role of a renowned Guardian, a leader of one of the mighty clans. Each turn you will gather provisions from the center pool and then make an offer of aid to another player. That player will decide if they think your offer is sincere or if they think you are trying to deceive them. If they are correct in guessing, they gain all of the provisions that were offered. If they were incorrect, you gain the provisions. Each type of provision grants points in a different manner, and the more you collect, the greater their points value. What’s in the Box • 1 Castle game board • 5 Guardian player boards • 20 Offer tokens • 120 Guardian game cards • 16 Quest cards • 20 Treasure cards • 70 Victory Point tokens • 40 Coin tokens • 45mm Starting Player token • 5 Player meeples
Guardian's Call 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 Guardian's Call is 20–40 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 Guardian's Call for ages 14 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.
Guardian's Call 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.
Guardian's Call belongs to these categories: Deduction and Bluffing. 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 Guardian's Call are: James Hudson. 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 Guardian's Call 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.