
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,122
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Clue: The Great Museum Caper
- 2–7 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1991

1993
Rules assistance for Pipeline
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pipeline is a board game released in 1993 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Thomas Rabideau, John LaBelle, and Dave Rabideau and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
Pipeline is a surprisingly fun 3D pipe laying game. Presented as a kid's game, gamers will enjoy it as a light contest too. 4 players have colourful plastic sets of plumbing; straights, angles, T joints and capping pieces. Start from one side of the board, spin a spinner (or roll a special die) to select your piece and try to build a pipeline over to ending points on the opposite side. You can rotate your pipeline if required, but not backtrack, so when your neighbour's pipe gets in your way, you have to build over or around. First to connect wins. Note: This game page is only for the 6x6 versions. The newer versions of Pipeline since 2010 have a 5x5 grid, and go on the separate Pipeline reimplementation page.
Pipeline 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 Pipeline 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 Pipeline for ages 6 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.
Pipeline has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Pipeline belongs to these categories: Children's Game and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Tile 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 Pipeline are: Thomas Rabideau, John LaBelle, and Dave Rabideau. 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 Pipeline 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.