- BGG rank
- BGG #656
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Small World Underground
- 2–5 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2011
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Rules assistance for Small World: River World
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 40–80 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Small World: River World
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Small World: River World is an expansion for Small World released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 40–80 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Philippe Keyaerts and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,158
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Small World of Warcraft
- 2–5 players
- 40–80 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,684
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Evo
- 3–5 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,427
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Vinci
- 3–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,095
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Olympos
- 2–5 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #34
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Root
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #8
- BGG rating
- 8.6
War of the Ring: Second Edition
- 2–4 players
- 150–240 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,630
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Tiny Epic Game of Thrones
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,288
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Evo (Second Edition)
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #358
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Cthulhu Wars
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,194
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Others
- 2–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,347
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Cthulhu Wars: Duel
- 2 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2020
About the game
Description from the publisher: In Small World: River World, players discover new maps full of water regions haunted by merciless pirates. Players need to defend their precious harbors against them, fight them on the river, and still keep an eye on their opponents! Some regions such as the shipyard or the temple of the seer may help them to have the upper hand, but in River World, there is still not enough room for everybody. And random events that trigger on each turn add to the chaos! Small World: River World includes two double-sided game boards, i.e., four maps in total, one for each of the four possible player configurations. Note: To play with this expansion, you need the following contents from Small World: race banners, special power badges, markers, victory coins, and the reinforcement die. The publisher recommends removing the "Flying" special power before using this expansion.
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby World
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- Days of Wonder
Questions and answers
Small World: River World 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 Small World: River World is 40–80 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 Small World: River World for ages 8 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.
Small World: River World has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Small World: River World belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Territory Building. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling. 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 Small World: River World are: Philippe Keyaerts. 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 Small World: River World as an expansion for Small World. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Small World to use it. Check that your edition of Small World is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.