- BGG rank
- BGG #1,657
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Medina (Second Edition)
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,584
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Medina
2001
Rules assistance for Medina
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Medina
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Medina is a board game released in 2001 for 3–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Stefan Dorra and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Square Grid, and Grid Coverage.
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About the game
The year is 1822. After years of decay, it is time to rebuild the medina, located at the foot of the Atlas mountains. The architects and engineers of the city work to erect large and beautiful palaces and to renovate the damaged city wall. As the reconstruction of the old city progresses, the city's inhabitants flock through the alleys, and the contours of the new city gradually reappear! Each turn, players must place two pieces on the board, either augmenting an existing building or starting a new building if the current building of that color is finished. Each player will claim one building of each of the four colors by the end of the game, giving one point per wooden piece attached to the building. Also, if you own the largest building of a particular color you get a bonus for that color. Finally, there are bonuses for the player who most recently connected one of their buildings to the walls, which grow from the four corners of the city. Medina is a tense game by the great designer Stefan Dorra. In 2014, Medina was re-released with new components, as well as changed and 2-player rules. See Medina (Second Edition).
Designers
Publishers
- 999 Games
- Rio Grande Games
- Hans im Glück
- Giochi Rari
Questions and answers
Medina supports 3–4 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 Medina 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 Medina 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.
Medina has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Medina belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy, City Building, and Arabian. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Square Grid, and Grid Coverage. 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 Medina are: Stefan Dorra. 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 Medina 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.