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Volcano
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Martian Backgammon
2001
Rules assistance for Martian Backgammon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 9+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Martian Backgammon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Martian Backgammon is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Kristin Looney and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move.
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About the game
Martian Backgammon is designed using Icehouse Pieces, and is the Icehouse answer to roll-and move race games. Like its namesake, Martian Backgammon is an abstract strategy game with a significant luck component. Two players compete to be the first to get their pieces off of superimposed U-shaped tracks, while capturing enemy pieces and evading capture themselves. It is quick to learn, and is enjoyed by players of varying ages and skill levels. It requires two different colored stashes of Icehouse pyramids, two dice, and a few small objects to define the "board".
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Looney Labs
Questions and answers
Martian Backgammon supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Martian Backgammon is 30 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 Martian Backgammon for ages 9 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.
Martian Backgammon has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
Martian Backgammon belongs to these categories: Dice and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are 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 Martian Backgammon are: Kristin Looney. 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 Martian Backgammon 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.