
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,133
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Sierra West
- 1–4 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2019

2024
Rules assistance for PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest is a board game released in 2024 for 1–8 players, 20–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Thomas Cardwell and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest is a beautifully illustrated book of six modern games for fans of card games, board games, and the Pacific Northwest. All you need is a deck of cards to hunt with a pod of orcas, forage for tasty mushrooms, brave the swift rivers of the salmon run, and more. Created and illustrated by Pacific Northwest locals as an ode to card games and the beauty of the PNW, these six games are a great way to dive into a world of fast and fun games with a familiar set of components. Free official downloads of the games are available on our itch page. Forage | Players: 2-8 — Complexity: 1 Explore a forest and gather baskets of mushrooms faster than your opponents in this set-collection game. Trail | Players: 3-4 — Complexity: 2 Pack supplies for your journey, then hike past landmarks in this drafting and resource-management game. Orca Isles | Players: 3-6 — Complexity: 2 Place orcas from your pod to gather prey, and collect poker hands to hunt at wooded isles in this worker-placement game. Cabin by the Sea | Players: 1 — Complexity: 3 Build stacks of cards from the sea, the beach, and your supply. Each turn, the sea gives and the sea takes in this solitaire game. Salmon Run | Players: 2 — Complexity: 4 Brave the chilly waters and predators along the salmon run, acclimating to changing conditions of the sea, the river, and the stream in this deckbuilding game. Signal Fire | Players: 4 — Complexity: 5 Communicate to your partner with smoke and fire signals, moving around the ridge and valley strategically in this partner trick-taking game. —description from the designer
PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest supports 1–8 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 PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest is 20–60 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 PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest 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.
PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Travel. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest are: Thomas Cardwell. 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 PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest 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.