- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
- 8.8
Hidden Realms: The Mummy's Tomb
- 1–99 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
- 6.2
Snake Pit
2002
Rules assistance for Snake Pit
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Snake Pit
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Snake Pit is a board game released in 2002 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Tom Scutt and its main mechanics are Tile Placement.
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About the game
Snake Pit is a free, downloadable tile-laying strategy game. Players start the game by drawing five tiles which they then keep hidden behind a screen. Each turn, the player lays two tiles and then draws replacements from the bag. Tiles are double-sided (where each side is the mirror image of the other), so tiles can be flipped as well as rotated. The idea of the game is to score points by completing snakes. The longer the snake, the more points you score (and you can score double points by completing two snakes with one move). Because any tiles played must match existing tiles on the table, it is possible to block opponent's plays as well as setting oneself up for a big score. There is a constant anxiety over whether to complete a snake to secure the points, or extend it in the hope of landing a bigger score later on.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
Questions and answers
Snake Pit 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 Snake Pit is 30 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 Snake Pit 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.
Snake Pit 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.
Snake Pit belongs to these categories: Print & Play, Adventure, and Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement. 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 Snake Pit are: Tom Scutt. 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 Snake Pit 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.