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Piepmatz: Little Songbirds
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,290
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Ladder 29
2017
Rules assistance for Ladder 29
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 30–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Ladder 29
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ladder 29 is a board game released in 2017 for 2–5 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Ladder Climbing.
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About the game
Ladder 29 is a hot game of ladder-climbing firefighters. As experts in the time-honored business of firefighting, players attempt to extinguish their hand of cards while facing difficult challenges that hinder their abilities and choices. Players must decide when to play it safe and when to put it all on the line in this easy-to-learn game that is sure to turn up the heat around the gaming table! Ladder 29 is played over several rounds in which players are dealt 13 cards each, pass three cards to the player on the left, then in reverse scoring order select a hotspot card; this card details the number of points awarded depending on the position the player goes out and a challenge that applies only to that player for the round: a player may only be able to lead singles, end runs in even numbers, or have limitations on what suits can be played in sets. The bigger the risk taken, the bigger the potential reward. The first player to "extinguish" their hand by playing all 13 cards wins the round and earns the most points possible on their hotspot card. Play continues until additional players go out, with all except the one who goes out last earning points for their finishing position.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Green Couch Games
Questions and answers
Ladder 29 supports 2–5 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 Ladder 29 is 30–45 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 Ladder 29 for ages 10 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.
Ladder 29 has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Ladder 29 belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Ladder Climbing. 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 Ladder 29 are: Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle. 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 Ladder 29 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.