- BGG rank
- BGG #4,638
- BGG rating
- 6.6
I am done
- 2–5 players
- 5–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,861
- BGG rating
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Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849
2008
Rules assistance for Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 is a board game released in 2008 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Marco Teubner and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Worker Placement.
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About the game
In Sutter's Mill the players experience the sudden rise and decline of the Californian town of Coloma during the gold rush. They first build up the town, bring new citizens into it, and, last but not least, dig gold. However, when it is time and the gold vein is almost spent, they better take their belongings and get the hell out of Coloma! In the game, this is represented by a division in two phases: build up followed by tear down. At the beginning of the game, all players start in the build up phase. It is up to the players themselves to decide when there's no more profit to be had and to enter the tear down phase. Each player makes this choice for himself, so while some players are already tearing down the place, others will still be building up.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Mayfair Games
- Phalanx Games B.V.
- Phalanx Games Deutschland
- Millenium
Questions and answers
Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 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 Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 is 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 Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 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.
Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 belongs to these categories: American West. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Worker 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 Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 are: Marco Teubner. 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 Sutter's Mill: California Gold Rush of 1849 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.