
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,403
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Nibble Nibble
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2007

2018
Rules assistance for Isidore
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Isidore is a board game released in 2018 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Hidde van Dijk and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Roll / Spin and Move, and Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Isidore's dynamics and ambience allow children as young as six to play, which makes it an excellent game to play as a family and to get children started in the world of modern board games. Students attending the Isidore School of Magic are trained to become Wizards and Witches... and you’re one of them! But, before qualifying top of your class, you have to prepare your ultimate magic spell. You need three rare treasures from the Kingdom of Calandria: a tear from the Water Nymph, a tooth from the Fire Dragon and an emerald from the Rock Giant. But these mythical creatures won’t give up their treasure without a fight! As a student of magic, you will need to show what you’ve learned at Isidore. You will need to trade ingredients, compose spells to control the elements of Rock, Water and Fire, and ultimately win the duels! In Isidore, you can collect, buy or trade ingredients throughout the Kingdom of Calandria. You need these ingredients to make your Rock, Water and Fire spells. The top spell card of the stack shows which ingredients you need to make the spell. If you’re at Isidore and you have all the ingredients needed for a Rock, Water or Fire spell, you can take a spell card. With these spells you can challenge the magical creatures to a duel. The magical creatures are powerful and always have three different duel cards (Rock, Water and Fire) to counter your attack. The player to the left of the attacking student stands in to play on behalf of the magical creature and takes the three dark duel cards. As in the ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors’ game, the student and the magical creature choose one of their spell cards (duel cards), which they place on the table – at exactly the same time - after reciting the magical spell I-SI-DORE (as in one, two, three!). • Fire beats Rock (fire melts rock). • Rock beats Water (rock absorbs water). • Water beats Fire (water puts out fire). • If the student and the magical creature play the same spell card, the elements cancel one another out and no one wins the round. The first student to collect three treasures can return to school, where they will be awarded a diploma from the Isidore Academy of Magical Arts. This student also wins the game! —description from the publisher
Isidore supports 2–4 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 Isidore is 30 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 Isidore for ages 6 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.
Isidore 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.
Isidore belongs to these categories: Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Roll / Spin and Move, and Rock-Paper-Scissors. 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 Isidore are: Hidde van Dijk. 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 Isidore 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.