- BGG rank
- BGG #3,895
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Kohle & Kolonie
2013
Rules assistance for Kohle & Kolonie
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 150–180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Kohle & Kolonie
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kohle & Kolonie is a board game released in 2013 for 3–5 players, 150–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Thomas Spitzer and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding.
About the game
In Kohle & Kolonie, which is set in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the players run small coal mines in the German Ruhr area (Essen, Hattingen, Bochum, Witten) during the age of industrialization. They need to modernize these mines so that when these smaller mines are merged into larger ones, they can be prepared to take control of the auction and therefore the larger mine. Additionally, players have to ensure the availability of workers for their mines, while also constructing and caring for a railway system that comprises infrastructure in the mines. Finally, if players don't invest money or workers in their mines in order to secure them, they increase their chance of suffering a mining accident, which will lead to negative fallout when it comes time to bid for consolidated mines. Whoever best manages these tasks wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Spielworxx
- Spielefaible
Questions and answers
Kohle & Kolonie 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 Kohle & Kolonie is 150–180 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 Kohle & Kolonie for ages 12 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.
Kohle & Kolonie has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Kohle & Kolonie belongs to these categories: Economic and Industry / Manufacturing. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding. 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 Kohle & Kolonie are: Thomas Spitzer. 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 Kohle & Kolonie 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.