
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,764
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Dice Words
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2025

2020
Rules assistance for Stacked
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Stacked is a board game released in 2020 for 1–5 players, 15–45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Sean Brown, Tim Phillips, and LeAnn Phillips and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
Stacked is a family game from 1-5 players, that is part card game, and part dexterity. The goal is to place blocks on top of a pre-set base to form a teetering tower. Without knocking this tower over, the person to bank the most points in their play pile wins! Stacked allows you to pick the Victory condition that you like, or to fit whatever circumstances you’re playing under. Stacked allows you to pick the Difficulty Level (Beginner, Normal, or Expert) Stacked allows you to pick the Gameplay Mode: (1) Trick–Taking - This requires a little more strategy – Winners of the trick don’t have to place a block on the tower, but instead get to make one of their opponents place it! (2) Draw-and-Play - This is great for kids or solitaire play! No hands of cards, no tricks – draw a card and place that block on the tower. Don’t touch any blocks whose color is the same as the color of the last piece added to the tower. How high can you go? (3) Follow-the-Leader – Place a block of the same color or shape as the previous player, or you’ll draw another card in your hand and potentially lose points at the end of the game.
Stacked supports 1–5 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 Stacked is 15–45 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 Stacked for ages 14 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.
Stacked has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Stacked belongs to these categories: Card Game and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Stacked are: Sean Brown, Tim Phillips, and LeAnn Phillips. 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 Stacked 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.