- BGG rank
- BGG #1,564
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Machina Arcana (Second/Third Edition)
- 1–4 players
- 150 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2019
- BGG rating
- 8.8
Rules assistance for Machina Arcana: Vivarium
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–240 min
- 14+
Rules assistant for Machina Arcana: Vivarium
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Machina Arcana: Vivarium is an expansion for Machina Arcana released in 2026 for 1–4 players, 30–240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Juraj Bilich and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Storytelling.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,672
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Dragons Down
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,252
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Dungeons of Doria
- 1–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,628
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Folklore: The Affliction
- 1–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #606
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,770
- BGG rating
- 8.6
League of Dungeoneers
- 1–4 players
- 90–180 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,337
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Harakiri: Blades of Honor
- 1–4 players
- 60–150 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,885
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Captain's Log
- 1–4 players
- 60–240 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,512
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Sub Terra II: Inferno's Edge
- 1–6 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,923
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Spire's End
- 1–2 players
- 15–120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #850
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Tiny Epic Dungeons
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #582
- BGG rating
- 9.0
Aeon Trespass: Odyssey
- 1–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 4.8/5
- 2022
About the game
The Vivarium Expansion isn't just an add-on — it's a transformative evolution of Machina Arcana, deepening the horror and strategy in ways never seen before. Each Vivarium scenario weaves its own dark tale. The stories expand beyond the icy mountain, unveiling haunted ruins, forsaken domains, and realms lost in time and space. It incorporates new decks into your game to transform every session with immersive and unpredictable challenges. Every map tile now holds a surprise — encounters, evolving terrain, and environmental shifts — making each step into the unknown more immersive and unpredictable. A comic-book-inspired storytelling system replaces the traditional chapter structure, making the story more immersive, easier to follow, and filled with branching choices that shape your journey. New explorers, arcane relics, sinister events, and chilling encounters breathe fresh life into Machina Arcana, ensuring that every journey is shrouded in mystery and peril. Vivarium is fully compatible with all previous scenarios and editions of Machina Arcana. — Description from the publisher
Questions and answers
Machina Arcana: Vivarium 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 Machina Arcana: Vivarium is 30–240 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 Machina Arcana: Vivarium for ages 14 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.
Machina Arcana: Vivarium belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Storytelling. 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 Machina Arcana: Vivarium are: Juraj Bilich. 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 Machina Arcana: Vivarium as an expansion for Machina Arcana. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Machina Arcana to use it. Check that your edition of Machina Arcana is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.