- BGG rank
- BGG #5,048
- BGG rating
- 6.2
504
- 2–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,097
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Swordfish
2012
Rules assistance for Swordfish
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 75 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for Swordfish
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Swordfish is a board game released in 2012 for 2–6 players, 75 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Pierluigi Frumusa and Davide Rizzi and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Point to Point Movement, and Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
Swordfish is a German game on the fishing and the commerce of swordfish. Close to the North Atlantic continental shelf is a group of shallow underwater plateaus called Grand Banks. This area is unique because the cold Labrador Current mixes with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The mixing of the streams and the shape of the ocean bottom lifts nutrients to the surface, helping to create one of the richest fishing grounds in the world – but it is also the cause of violent storms that happen in the best fishing zone of this area: the well-known Flemish Cap of The Perfect Storm. The players will have to manage their victory points when they are on the coast to hire boats, engage captains and crews, and buy the proper quantities of fuel and bait so as to sail the Ocean at their best and fish the heaviest and most profitable swordfish of the world. Only the most skilled and bravest seamen will be able to take to the open sea without fear through the storm, find the "triple markers", and sell the catch in order to have the most victory points at the end of the season.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Ghenos Games
- ElfinWerks
Questions and answers
Swordfish supports 2–6 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 Swordfish is 75 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 Swordfish 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.
Swordfish has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Swordfish belongs to these categories: Economic, Travel, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Point to Point Movement, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Swordfish are: Pierluigi Frumusa and Davide Rizzi. 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 Swordfish 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.