
- BGG rank
- BGG #35
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Orléans
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2014

Rules assistance for Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion is an expansion for Holotype: Mesozoic North America released in 2023 for 2–6 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Brett Harrison and Lex Terenchin and its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses and Worker Placement, Different Worker Types.
This is an expansion for Holotype: Mesozoic North America. Game play does not change, but new cards are added to the base game, including: 7 unique Pterosaur specimen cards 3 new Field Expedition cards 3 Gastrolith Trace Fossil cards 3 new Global Objectives 2 new Personal Objectives 1 new Milestone Achievement Description for base game: A fast-paced light-strategy worker placement board game about paleontology for 2-5 players. Players use their Paleontologist, Grad Student and Field Assistant workers to gather fossils, do research and publish new Dinosaurs and Marine Reptiles as Holotypes. Personal and semi-collaborative Global Objectives feature modern paleontology concepts such as cladistics and taxonomy. The player with the most Victory Points from publishing Holotypes, completing Personal Objectives and contributing to Global Objectives wins.
Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion supports 2–6 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 Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion is 60–120 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 Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion 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.
Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion 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.
Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion belongs to these categories: Prehistoric and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses and Worker Placement, Different Worker Types. 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 Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion are: Brett Harrison and Lex Terenchin. 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 Holotype: Pterosaur Mini-Expansion as an expansion for Holotype: Mesozoic North America. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Holotype: Mesozoic North America to use it. Check that your edition of Holotype: Mesozoic North America is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.