
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,087
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Bargain Basement Bathysphere
- 1 player
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2022

2005
Rules assistance for Pocket Civ
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pocket Civ is a board game released in 2005 for 1–2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Scott Slomiany and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Modular Board, and Open Drafting.
From the designer's website: "A Solitaire Civilization game that's compact enough to play on a plane." PocketCiv is a print and play game that provides a solo or two-player civilization experience. PocketCiv comes in two flavors, Deluxe and Basic. Basic refers to the barest, stripped down version that you play with the deck of provided cards, and a pad of paper and a pencil. This version is very portable. However, if you want a more boardgame-like experience, you can download all the other artwork, and mount it on cardboard, illustration board (my new favorite mounting material) or foam core. The starting layout can be set up randomly, or for an additional challenge, one of the author's predefined Scenarios can be used. Using tribes to expand your civilization, create cities, buy advances, build wonders and go on expeditions, while preparing for the devastation that random events will bring. Only with careful planning and a little luck will your empire stand the test of time.
Pocket Civ supports 1–2 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 Pocket Civ is 30 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 Pocket Civ 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.
Pocket Civ has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Pocket Civ belongs to these categories: Card Game, Print & Play, and Civilization. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Modular Board, and Open Drafting. 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 Pocket Civ are: Scott Slomiany. 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 Pocket Civ 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.