- BGG rating
- 7.3
Snow Tails: Polar Plunge Track
- 2–5 players
- 45–60 min
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,173
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Snow Tails
2008
Rules assistance for Snow Tails
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Snow Tails
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Snow Tails is a board game released in 2008 for 2–5 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Gordon Lamont and Fraser Lamont and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Race, and Player Elimination.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,203
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Shear Panic
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,548
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Poseidon's Kingdom
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,286
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Antics!
- 3–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #294
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Flamme Rouge
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,845
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Fast Flowing Forest Fellers
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,526
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Impulse
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #789
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Formula D
- 2–10 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,118
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Formula Dé
- 2–10 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1997
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,253
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Pole Position
- 1–6 players
- 45–180 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,035
- BGG rating
- 6.2
504
- 2–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,493
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Get Bit!
- 2–7 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #120
- BGG rating
- 7.7
The Quest for El Dorado
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2017
About the game
Snow Tails is set in the snowy world of the Arctic Circle, where brave sledders compete in a test of skill and endurance. Action is fast and furious and not all sleds may make it to the finish. Huskies only have one setting and that is full speed! Hang on to your furs, the reins, your sled and anything else you can get hold of. Race courses are built randomly. The game contains modular track pieces which can be fitted together to form different courses. Players have their own Dog Decks which they draw from and play onto their sled mat. Movement is rarely in a straight line as the sled may drift left or right. Losing control or speeding into a corner results in Dent cards being acquired which will limit a player's hand size. Players each have a dog sled with 2 dogs (initially valued 3 each) and a brake (also 3). Each player has the same deck of cards (5 sets of cards 1-5, shuffled) from which they draw a hand of 5 cards. On your turn, may play 1-3 cards of the same value to these 3 locations (dog1, dog2, brakes). Forward speed (and distance moved) = dog1 + dog2 - brake + bonus (=position in race) if (dog1 = dog2). Lateral movement distance = dog1 - dog2 (move to the side with the stronger dog). Certain parts of the track have speed limits; you take damage if you exceed them, or if you run into obstacles (ice patches, side of track, etc.). Damage = cards that take up space in your hand (so 5th damage --> out of the race!). The first player to cross the finish line wins!
Designers
Publishers
- asmodee
- Fragor Games
- Renegade Game Studios
- 25th Century Games
Questions and answers
Snow Tails 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 Snow Tails is 45–60 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 Snow Tails 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.
Snow Tails 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.
Snow Tails belongs to these categories: Animals, Racing, and Sports. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Race, and Player Elimination. 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 Snow Tails are: Gordon Lamont and Fraser Lamont. 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 Snow Tails 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.