- BGG rank
- BGG #23,211
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Sphinx
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,728
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Pathfinder
1974
Rules assistance for Pathfinder
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Pathfinder
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pathfinder is a board game released in 1974 for 2 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Edith Grein-Böttcher and Mark Berger and its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement and Secret Unit Deployment.
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About the game
This game could be described as maze battleships. The game has 2 phases, set up and play. During set up, each player has a hidden board on which they set up, not a set of ships, but a maze with small rectangular plastic walls. They place a sitting man figure somewhere in the maze. During play, each player takes turns to call out steps along the opponents maze (blind) until they bump into a wall. They have a duplicate board on which they track their knowledge of the opponents hidden maze. Then the other player goes. The game consists of a nifty plastic case that closes up to form a "suitcase" for storage and transport. The original German version Sniff included many variants, including one in which the treasures are protected by ditches and guard dogs.
Editions
- PathfinderenMilton Bradley1978
- PathfinderenJohn Sands Pty Ltd1977
- PathfinderenMilton Bradley1977
- PathfinderenMilton Bradley1977
- IrrgartendeMB Spiele1977
- Le TraqueurfrMB Jeux1977
- UitwegMB Spellen1977
- SniffdeF.X. Schmid1974
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- John Sands Pty Ltd
- Milton Bradley
- F.X. Schmid
- MB Spellen
- MB Spiele
- MB Jeux
Questions and answers
Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder is 20 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 Pathfinder 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.
Pathfinder has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Pathfinder belongs to these categories: Deduction, Abstract Strategy, and Maze. Its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement and Secret Unit Deployment. 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 Pathfinder are: Edith Grein-Böttcher and Mark Berger. 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 Pathfinder 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.