
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,308
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Mush! Mush!: Snow Tails 2
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2013

2006
Rules assistance for Hameln
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hameln is a board game released in 2006 for 3–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Gordon Lamont and Fraser Lamont and its main mechanics are Variable Phase Order.
Welcome to the 13th Century town of Hameln (Hamlyn). Townspeople go about the business of living - buying houses, having children, marrying, earning an honest coin and trying to get one up on their neighbors. However, their way of life is under threat...a plague of rats has arrived. As the number of rats rise the levels of food and romantic thoughts dwindle.... where is the Pied Piper when you need him ? Beware though, the Pied Piper plays his music at a price and his talents stretch beyond simply charming rats. Players score points for houses, influence, money and possession of the cat. Losing children to the Pied Piper is considered bad form and will lose you points.
Hameln supports 3–5 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 Hameln is 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 Hameln for ages 12 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.
Hameln 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.
Hameln belongs to these categories: Humor, Animals, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Variable Phase Order. 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 Hameln are: Gordon Lamont and Fraser Lamont. 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 Hameln 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.