
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,126
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Jump Ship!
- 1–2 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2016

2015
Rules assistance for Stowaway 52
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Stowaway 52 is a board game released in 2015 for 1–5 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Floyd Pretz and its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement, Storytelling, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
You've sneaked aboard an alien ship that's about to attack Earth and it's up to you to stop it! Set a course for sabotage with this unique "Cardventure" – an interactive story that puts you at the controls. Do you reprogram the flight computer, or do you destroy the engine room? Do you grab that key card, or head for the escape pods? Choose wisely – your fate depends on the path you pick! Whether you play solo or with a friend, the goal is the same: Find the path that uses the entire deck and save the Earth! In more detail, Stowaway 52 is a choose-your-path book in a deck of cards. You can start your adventure on any card, and on each card the choice you make tells you which card to go to next. Your goal is to find the path through the adventure that visits all 52 cards. The first edition of Stowaway 52 contains five game modes: Too Many Stowaways: Two to five players chase each other around the ship, trying not to get caught! Two Stowaways: A two-player race through the ship to get the highest score. One Stowaway: A solitaire adventure in which you try to cross the entire deck. Stowaway Rummy: A rummy variant using story segments as melds for up to four players. Alien Treasure Hunting: A two-player game in which one player hides treasures and the other player tries to find the best one.
Stowaway 52 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 Stowaway 52 is 15 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 Stowaway 52 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.
Stowaway 52 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.
Stowaway 52 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Adventure, and Puzzle. Its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement, Storytelling, and Solo / Solitaire 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 Stowaway 52 are: Floyd Pretz. 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 Stowaway 52 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.