- BGG rank
- BGG #12,888
- BGG rating
- 7.5
ECO: Coral Reef
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,183
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Loam
2023
Rules assistance for Loam
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 15–40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Loam
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Loam is a board game released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 15–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Max Helmberger and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
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About the game
Loam is a set-matching strategy game about building healthy soils. You are a plant, who for obvious reasons is into that sort of thing. You also have a lot more power and agency over your environment than humans often give you credit for. Use chemical inputs to sculpt the soil’s weird and wonderful biodiversity to assemble vibrant ecological communities. The goal of Loam is to build the healthiest possible soil by creating the most balanced and biodiverse ecosystem possible. To do this, you use inputs to place creatures in your root zone. Each creature you attract adds certain stats to your soil profile! Every turn, you must play all three of your inputs. Inputs are action cards that allow you to place creatures in your root zone, alter the soil, or draw creature cards to your hand. Once you've played all three, your turn ends. At end of game, all players calculate the points each community is worth, as well as their balance bonus. Highest score wins! —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Cardboard Revolution
Questions and answers
Loam supports 1–4 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 Loam is 15–40 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 Loam 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.
Loam has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Loam belongs to these categories: Card Game, Abstract Strategy, and Educational. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. 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 Loam are: Max Helmberger. 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 Loam 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.