- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
- 7.7
Race for the Galaxy
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,756
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Holly Oak
2023
Rules assistance for Holly Oak
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30–40 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.3/5
Rules assistant for Holly Oak
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Holly Oak is a board game released in 2023 for 3–5 players, 30–40 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Thomas Lehmann and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
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About the game
In the seasonal trick-taking game Holly Oak, 3-5 revelers mark the passing of the seasons, seeking the favor of the Celtic Oak and Holly kings, locked in their endless cycle of growth, decay, and renewal. You must follow the current season if you can, but if you can't, then you may play any card. If you play a card of the next season, the season changes! A change in season often alters who wins that trick, as the highest rank card of the season that the trick ends in, wins that trick. These potential mid-trick season changes means that standard trick-taking maneuvers, such as drawing out trump, often won't work. Players score points either by taking the 6 Holly and Oak kings, worth 1 or 2 points each, or by taking no tricks at all, worth 8, 5, or 3 points in 3, 4, and 5 player games respectively. Between no-trick scoring and mid-trick trump changes, Holly Oak becomes a game of manipulating both the lead and current season to your advantage. Can you master the changing seasons?
Editions
- Holly OakenRio Grande Games2023
Questions and answers
Holly Oak 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 Holly Oak is 30–40 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 Holly Oak 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.
Holly Oak has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Holly Oak belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Holly Oak are: Thomas Lehmann. 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 Holly Oak 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.