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Neutron
1978
Rules assistance for Neutron
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 10–15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Neutron
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Neutron is a board game released in 1978 for 2 players, 10–15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Robert A. Kraus (II) and its main mechanics are Square Grid and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Neutron is a two-player abstract strategy board game played on a square board with a 5x5 grid. Each player has five tokens of different colors that start on the baseline of the board closest to them. A single token of a third color called the Neutron starts in the center of the board. To win, either surround the Neutron or move it to your baseline. On a turn, a player does these two actions in this order: Move the Neutron: Move it any direction to the furthest vacant square possible without leaping over other tokens; if you can't move it, you lose (because the other player has surrounded it). Move one of your tokens: Move it any direction to the furthest square possible without leaping over other tokens. On the first turn, the starting player skips the Neutron move. Neutron was invented by Robert A. Kraus and first appeared in 1978. Bobail is nearly identical to Neutron, except in Bobail the Neutron can only move one vacant adjacent space. The publishers of Bobail claim that it's a traditional African game that pre-dates Neutron, but there is no evidence to back up this claim.
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Questions and answers
Neutron 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 Neutron is 10–15 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 Neutron for ages 8 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.
Neutron has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Neutron belongs to these categories: Print & Play and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid and Grid Movement. 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 Neutron are: Robert A. Kraus (II). 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 Neutron 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.