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Command of Nature
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- 30–60 min
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- 2024
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Rats & Relics
2026
Rules assistance for Rats & Relics
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–3 players
- 10–20 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.5/5
Rules assistant for Rats & Relics
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rats & Relics is a board game released in 2026 for 2–3 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alexander Mosin and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Tags.
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About the game
Beneath the fallen stones of an ancient cathedral, rival rat clans wage an endless struggle for control of the ruins. In this dueling card game, players build rat clans by equipping their rats with powerful relics. The core mechanic revolves around combining rat and relic cards to form unique units, each with its own abilities and synergies. On a turn, a player either draws cards from the rat and relic decks or plays a pair of cards from their hand, gradually expanding their presence on the table. As the game progresses, each player controls an increasing number of rats, which begin to form an engine shaped by their chosen strategy. Different card combinations offer varied tactical approaches, creating multiple viable paths to victory in every match To win the game, a player must successfully play one of several powerful relics while meeting its specific conditions. Relics are divided into Weapons, Arcane, and Trinkets, and each category represents a distinct victory condition, encouraging players to commit to a strategy while adapting to their opponent’s plans. —description from the designer
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
Questions and answers
Rats & Relics supports 2–3 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 Rats & Relics 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 Rats & Relics 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.
Rats & Relics has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Rats & Relics belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Tags. 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 Rats & Relics are: Alexander Mosin. 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 Rats & Relics 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.