- BGG rank
- BGG #3,444
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Homeworlds
- 2–6 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,238
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Icehouse
1989
Rules assistance for Icehouse
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.6/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Icehouse
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Icehouse is a board game released in 1989 for 3–5 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Andrew Looney and John Cooper.
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About the game
This is the game that introduced Icehouse Pieces. In December 1989, an initial test run of 100 Icehouse sets were made and sold, packaged in black boxes. Later, a few more of these handmade sets were produced, but in very limited quantities. This game doesn't use turns, or rounds, or anything else to break up the action. Players place their pieces as quickly or slowly as they like, in attacking or defending positions. Only when time runs out or when everyone has used up all their pieces is the game scored, with people getting points for their safe defenders and successful attackers. Stashes of Icehouse Pieces without rules, later released as Looney Pyramids, have an accessory entry here: Looney Pyramids.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- IcehouseGames
- Crystal Caste
Questions and answers
Icehouse 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 Icehouse is 20 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 Icehouse for ages 8 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.
Icehouse has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Icehouse belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy and Real-time. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Icehouse and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Icehouse are: Andrew Looney and John Cooper. 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 Icehouse 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.