
- BGG rank
- BGG #179
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Star Realms
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2014

2019
Rules assistance for Longboat
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.
Longboat is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Mike Kay and its main mechanics are Take That, Set Collection, and Open Drafting.
Longboat is a strategic drafting game in which for 2 - 4 players compete to build the most glorious Viking longboat. Players take it in turns to draft cards from a central pool called The River and add them to their boat. Scoring or 'Glory' is based on a number of factors, including the loyalty of the vikings on board and the amount of Loot the player has amassed. Special cards activate abilities, such as Berserkers that allow a player to steal loot from another's boat. Or sheep that are used to weigh down opponents and rob them of glory. —description from the designer
Longboat 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 Longboat is 20–40 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 Longboat 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.
Longboat has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Longboat belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Take That, Set Collection, and Open Drafting. 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 Longboat are: Mike Kay. 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 Longboat 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.