- BGG rank
- BGG #1,578
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Saboteur
- 3–10 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,715
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Quicksand
2003
Rules assistance for Quicksand
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 10–20 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Quicksand
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Quicksand is a board game released in 2003 for 2–5 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Stefano Cavanè and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Hidden Roles.
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About the game
In Quicksand, you and your opponents each secretly control one of six jungle explorers racing to discover (i.e., land on) the temple location. There are Explorer cards, Quicksand cards, and Wild cards. Your hand size is always six cards. By playing cards strategically, you and your opponents, move the six explorers towards the temple. Since no one knows which explorer each player is playing, you will also be advancing other Explorer markers on the path towards the Temple. This is not only to keep the other players in the dark about your identity, but also because you need to play those cards in order to draw more cards from the deck. You want to have the most favourable cards for your own Explorer in your hand as you approach the finish line (the Temple location). One of the ways to slow down your opponents is to "put them in quicksand". You do this by playing the Quicksand card. Then they must play a card just to "get them out" before they can play cards to advance them further along the path. In addition to hand management, there is also blocking and movement strategies to best position your Explorer's piece, while encumbering the opponent.
Designers
Publishers
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Esdevium
- Midgaard Games
Questions and answers
Quicksand supports 2–5 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 Quicksand is 10–20 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 Quicksand 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.
Quicksand 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.
Quicksand belongs to these categories: Card Game, Bluffing, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Hidden Roles. 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 Quicksand are: Stefano Cavanè. 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 Quicksand 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.