- BGG rank
- BGG #25,628
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Scrooge: The Board Game
- 2–6 players
- 15–90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,879
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game
2013
Rules assistance for Moby Dick, or, The Card Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Moby Dick, or, The Card Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,426
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Heropath: Dragon Roar
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #333
- BGG rating
- 7.9
The Witcher: Old World
- 1–5 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,114
- BGG rating
- 8.1
The Witcher: Legacy
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- 2027
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,443
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Munchkin Disney
- 3–6 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,885
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Munchkin Disney DuckTales
- 3–6 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,029
- BGG rating
- 8.1
World Order
- 2–4 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,398
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Warfighter: A Chtorr Special Forces Card Game
- 1–6 players
- 30–180 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #15
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 30–150 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #65
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #733
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set
- 1–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,422
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Altar Quest
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2020
About the game
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game is an adventure card game designed for 2-4 players, with additional rules for solitaire play. Based on Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick combines cooperative and competitive play in an attempt to loosely simulate life on a 19th century whaleship. The game is centered around three decks of cards: the Sea, the Sailor, and the Whale. After receiving an initial crew of sailors, players take turns at the topmast, where they draw Sea cards to advance the game. These cards contain various creatures and events, compelling actions between players or triggering the secondary phase of the game – the whale hunt. During a whale hunt, each player begins by choosing a small group of their sailors to lower after the whale. Play progresses much like the primary gameplay, with players taking turns defending against the whale's assaults and returning the favors. As the game unfolds, players gain oil from defeating whales or from certain events, which can be used to hire new sailors after others are lost at sea. Over time, key events (Chapters) will be drawn, and after a certain number Moby Dick will cease evading the ship and engage when sighted. This last battle is to the death, and only one player will survive. Call him the winner, or simply, Ishmael.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- King Post
Questions and answers
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game 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 Moby Dick, or, The Card Game 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 Moby Dick, or, The Card Game for ages 12 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.
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Moby Dick, or, The Card Game belongs to these categories: Card Game, Adventure, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading. 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 catalogue lists Moby Dick, or, The Card Game 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.