- BGG rank
- BGG #20,218
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Res Publica: 2230AD
- 3–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,951
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Res Publica
1991
Rules assistance for Res Publica
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.7/5
Rules assistant for Res Publica
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Res Publica is a board game released in 1991 for 3–5 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trading.
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About the game
In Res Publica you are the will of the people, guiding five ancient civilizations to greater heights of power and technology. Each turn, the active player makes a trade offer... and each player in turn responds in kind. Using the cards and the information gained through the trading process, players work to acquire five identical people cards in order to build a city (which increases the number of cards you can draw each turn) or five identical technology cards in order to build a monument (which garners end game victory points). At the end of the game, players total the points achieved via cities and monuments and the one who has the most wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Queen Games
- Hexagames (I)
- Eclipse Editorial
- Avalanche Press Ltd.
Questions and answers
Res Publica supports 3–5 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 Res Publica is 30–60 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 Res Publica 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.
Res Publica has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Res Publica belongs to these categories: Card Game and Civilization. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trading. 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 Res Publica are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Res Publica 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.