- BGG rank
- BGG #7,022
- BGG rating
- 6.2
The Very Clever Pipe Game
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,145
- BGG rating
- 5.8
LeCardo
1998
Rules assistance for LeCardo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for LeCardo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
LeCardo is a board game released in 1998 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Leo Marshall and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Tile Placement, and Square Grid.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #779
- BGG rating
- 7.2
The Downfall of Pompeii
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,830
- BGG rating
- 6.8
The Rose King
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #447
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Arboretum
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,787
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Gazebo
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,249
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Roots: A Game of Inventing Words
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,638
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Lifeboat
- 4–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,646
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Bridge City Poker
- 2–4 players
- 20–45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,752
- BGG rating
- 6.5
GROWL
- 4–10 players
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,446
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Scrabble
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1948
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,241
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Upwords
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1982
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,197
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Letter Up
- 1–2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2026
About the game
LeCardo is an exciting game that tests players' skill in adding words together to form compounds. But that's not all: like all the best strategy games, players need to think several moves ahead in order both to maximize their scores and to frustrate their opponents. Each player starts with a hand of seven cards, all with different words on. You play a card which is placed next to cards in play to create compound words or phrases - as read down, or left to right. The scores are the sum of the two cards - or more cards if in play. You then draw a replacement card, keeping seven in hand. The game ends when one player has played out their hand, or no player can play. All remaining cards in hand are then deducted from the scores.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
Questions and answers
LeCardo 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 LeCardo 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 LeCardo 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.
LeCardo 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.
LeCardo belongs to these categories: Card Game, Word Game, and Educational. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Tile Placement, and Square Grid. 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 LeCardo are: Leo Marshall. 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 LeCardo 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.