- BGG rank
- BGG #8,876
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Runika and the Six-sided Spellbooks
- 1–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,752
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Microbrew
2017
Rules assistance for Microbrew
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 45–60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Microbrew
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Microbrew is a board game released in 2017 for 2 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Sarah Kennington and Nigel Kennington and its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Pattern Recognition, and Worker Placement.
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About the game
Microbrew is a medium-weight worker placement / puzzle game hybrid for two players: The Tiny Tin Brewery have challenged YOU - leaders of their two most skilled brewing teams to a brew off! Who will create the tastiest beers and win the most loyal customers? Only one way to find out - Ready! Set! Brew! In Microbrew, players take turns sending brewers to work stations to mash, brew, bottle and serve their own beer recipes to a stream of thirsty customers. Work stations aren't locked out like most other worker placement games - if you really want to push someone out - you can, but their worker goes back to be reused this turn! This means rounds are very dynamic and require careful thought to not just optimize your little team but also to predict where your opponent wants to be so you can ride their wave! Brewing isn't just worker placement though - each player has their own "Copper" brewing kettle where their brewer's actions can let them play a simple but fiendish puzzle game to reorganize their kettle and complete a perfect recipe. Or not! Will you try to make each customer's perfect beer and win their loyalty, or will you flood the market with average brews and let the marketing money do its thing? Microbrew was the winner of the 2017 Mint Tin Design Contest. Best Overall Design Most Innovative Mechanic
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- One Free Elephant
Questions and answers
Microbrew 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 Microbrew is 45–60 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 Microbrew 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.
Microbrew has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Microbrew belongs to these categories: Economic, Print & Play, and Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Pattern Recognition, and Worker Placement. 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 Microbrew are: Sarah Kennington and Nigel Kennington. 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 Microbrew 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.