- BGG rating
- 7.6
Merlin: Queenie 1 – Treasures of the Environs
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,336
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Merlin
2017
Rules assistance for Merlin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Merlin
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Merlin is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 75 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Stefan Feld and Michael Rieneck and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Roll / Spin and Move, and Area Majority / Influence.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Merlin: Queenie 2 – The King's Decree
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Merlin: Arthur Expansion
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Merlin: Knights of the Round Table
- 2–4 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2019
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Merlin: Morgana Expansion
- 2–4 players
- 75–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2021
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About the game
King Arthur is searching for a worthy heir. Together with Merlin, he tries to find the best candidate among the Knights of the Round Table. In Merlin, players move their knights or Merlin with the help of dice around the action ring to get the most desired actions. While the knights are only moved by the corresponding player, Merlin can be moved by all players, which makes integrating Merlin in one's plan a tricky endeavor. There are multiple ways to score victory points such as defeating barbarians, building manors in the surrounding area and increasing one's influence in the six counties. Additionally, players can fulfill task cards during their turn to get more victory points. The player who plans his actions most efficiently will ultimately have the most points and thus will be the royal successor of King Arthur.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Queen Games
- Calamity Games
- Piatnik Distribution
Questions and answers
Merlin 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 Merlin is 75 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 Merlin 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.
Merlin has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Merlin belongs to these categories: Medieval. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Roll / Spin and Move, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Merlin are: Stefan Feld and Michael Rieneck. 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 Merlin 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.