- BGG rank
- BGG #15,645
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Mandarin
- 3–5 players
- 50 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,939
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Marco Polo
1983
Rules assistance for Marco Polo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for Marco Polo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Marco Polo is a board game released in 1983 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Tom Kremer and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, and Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
Players start in Venice with 240 besants (or 1200 Reales) each, trying to make it to Khanbalik, capital of Kublai Khan's kingdom. Each player has to acquire 3 gifts worth 80 besants (or 400 Reales) each for Kublai Khan. Then the player receive a mission (going to a city and receiving a secret invention). After receiving the secret invention, players has to make it back to Venice, with the mission card, and enough money (depending on the number of players), to win the game. The rule-booklet also includes a brief description of Marco Polo and his life, and references to other Danish books about Marco Polo.
Designers
Publishers
- Schmidt Spiele
- Editrice Giochi
- N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm)
- CEFA (Celulosa Fabril S. A.)
- danspil
- Nelostuote Oy
- Nelospelit
- K.E.Leg
Questions and answers
Marco Polo 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 Marco Polo is 60 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 Marco Polo 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.
Marco Polo has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Marco Polo belongs to these categories: Economic, Exploration, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, and Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Marco Polo are: Tom Kremer. 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 Marco Polo 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.