
- BGG rank
- BGG #285
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Near and Far
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2017

Rules assistance for Islebound: Metropolis Expansion
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.
Islebound: Metropolis Expansion is an expansion for Islebound released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Ryan Laukat and its main mechanics are Modular Board, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
An expansion pack of 40 new building cards, and 2 new Reputation cards. Metropolis cards have an orange sunset background. When you play with this expansion, you set up an extra row of cards above the normal building cards. Only three cards are available to purchase, and they require you to have one, two, or three books (depending on where they are in the row). You also must have one normal building for every Metropolis building you own. Because they're a little harder to get, each Metropolis card is worth +1 renown.
Islebound: Metropolis Expansion 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 Islebound: Metropolis 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 Islebound: Metropolis Expansion for ages 13 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.
Islebound: Metropolis Expansion has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Islebound: Metropolis Expansion belongs to these categories: Nautical and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Modular Board, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 Islebound: Metropolis Expansion are: Ryan Laukat. 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 Islebound: Metropolis Expansion as an expansion for Islebound. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Islebound to use it. Check that your edition of Islebound is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.