- BGG rating
- 7.3
Rattus: Pied Piper
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,577
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Rattus
2010
Rules assistance for Rattus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Rattus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Rattus is a board game released in 2010 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Henrik Berg and Åse Berg and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Rattus: Africanus
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2011
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Rattus: Arabian Traders
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2013
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Rattus: Mercatus
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2013
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Rattus: Academicus
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Rattus: Spoils of War
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Rattus: Level Upgrades Set
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 2018
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Wars of the Roses: Lancaster vs. York
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2010
About the game
Europe, 1347. A disaster is about to strike. The Black Death reaches Europe, and during the next 4-5 years, the population of Europe will be halved. The players settle in the various regions of Europe, while the plague spreads throughout all of the continent. The players gain help from the various classes of the middle ages: the Peasants provide population growth, the wise Monks keep the rats away, the rich Merchants flee when the plague approaches, the warfare conducted by the Knights spreads the plague to new areas, the Witches control the spread through magic and witchcraft, whereas the Kings avoid the plague by staying in their fortified palaces. But the plague does not make any distinction: when the rats arrive, no one can feel safe. When the plague withdraws and the game ends, the player with the highest surviving population wins. Rattus is a medium-strategy game that takes place in the Dark Ages during the black plague. The players try to hold off the disease. To do this they get help from farmers, magicians, knights, nobles, ... But nothing helps as long as the rats keep coming.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby World
- HUCH!
- Vennerød Forlag AS
- White Goblin Games
- Z-Man Games
- Cranio Creations
- Axel
Questions and answers
Rattus 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 Rattus is 45 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 Rattus for ages 10 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.
Rattus has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Rattus belongs to these categories: Animals and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Rattus are: Henrik Berg and Åse Berg. 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 Rattus 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.