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- BGG #27,673
- BGG rating
- 8.9
Mischief & Malice TCG
- 2–4 players
- 10–60 min
- 2024
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MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation
2021
Rules assistance for MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20–60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 4.0/5
Rules assistant for MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation is a board game released in 2021 for 2–6 players, 20–60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Michael Waddell and its main mechanics are Trading, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation is a TCG rooted in creatures, spells, and artifacts. For this first set, the creatures, or Beasties as we call them, are USA based cryptids (i.e. Bigfoot, Mothman, Jersey Devil, etc...). What sets MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation apart is its core mechanic of breaking the 4th wall, or "meta". From a gameplay perspective, this means that the strength of your Beasties and Spells are impacted by the environment you play in. Playing on a rainy day? Your water Beasties and Spells get a power boost. Playing near an open fire while trying to keep warm as it snows outside? Your Flame spells are now twice as powerful, but watch out... the Snow outside not only boosts the strength of your opponent's Snow Beasties, but also makes some of them invisible (unable to be directly attacked). This added level of meta means choosing your battleground to best suit your deck build, or rapidly building decks to suit your environment, is a key feature of the game. Imagine playing a friend, but deftly convincing them to play next to a patch of trees to gain additional power boosts for your Forest Beasties! —description from the designer
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- MetaZoo Games LLC
Questions and answers
MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation supports 2–6 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 MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation is 20–60 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 MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation for ages 13 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.
MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation has a complexity rating of 4.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Collectible Components. Its main mechanics are Trading, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling. 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 MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation are: Michael Waddell. 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 MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation 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.