- BGG rating
- 10.0
Stem & Branch: Spirit Scrolls
- 1–4 players
- 20–40 min
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,314
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Stem & Branch
2026
Rules assistance for Stem & Branch
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 20–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Stem & Branch
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Stem & Branch is a board game released in 2026 for 1–4 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Michael Orion and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Grid Movement, and Cooperative Game.
Expansions
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About the game
Stem & Branch (Thiên Can Địa Chi) is an approachable & fast playing strategy card game inspired by the animals and elements of the 60-year Eastern zodiac calendar. It was lovingly crafted for families and gamers alike in hopes of creating a rewarding and fun way to enjoy the depth of the Eastern zodiac. You and the other players will compete or cooperate on a shared tableau to rebuild the calendar from beginning to end. By utilizing the elements and supporting the animals, players gain years throughout the game. Spend your time wisely as the player who contributes the most years will win. Game Summary The Stem and Branch cycle is represented in the 60-card deck, with each card symbolizing a year guided by a Spirit Animal and one of the Five Elements. As an Immortal, your sacred task is to nurture the Tree of Time by summoning and ascending the Spirit Animals from the Stream of Time and recording their progress in the Scroll of Time. The cost to summon a Spirit Animal depends on its rank and Element Type, paid by expending matching Animals and Elements you control. Once summoned, Animals already on the board can share their Element Type, making it easier to summon and ascend more Animals. In cooperative play, you work together to help all the Spirit Animals complete their journeys before the Stream of Time runs out. In competitive play, you compete for control of the Animals and Elements to devote the most years to the Tree of Time. The game ends when the Stream of Time runs out. You then add the years you gained and the one who has the most years will be the winner. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Rolling Wizards Studio
Questions and answers
Stem & Branch supports 1–4 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 Stem & Branch is 20–30 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 Stem & Branch 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.
Stem & Branch has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Stem & Branch belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Educational. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Grid Movement, and Cooperative Game. 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 Stem & Branch are: Michael Orion. 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 Stem & Branch 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.