- BGG rank
- BGG #7,022
- BGG rating
- 6.2
The Very Clever Pipe Game
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,102
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Tak
2017
Rules assistance for Tak
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 20–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Tak
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tak is a board game released in 2017 for 2 players, 20–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by James Ernest and Patrick Rothfuss and its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Network and Route Building.
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About the game
"My next several hours were spent learning how to play tak. Even if I had not been nearly mad with idleness, I would have enjoyed it. Tak is the best sort of game: simple in its rules, complex in its strategy. Bredon beat me handily in all five games we played, but I am proud to say that he never beat me the same way twice." -Kvothe Tak is a two-player abstract strategy game where players attempt to make a road of their pieces connecting two opposite sides of the board. To win a game of Tak, a player must be the first to create a “road” of stones connecting opposite sides of the board. Stones can be laid flat or stood on end. When played flat, they are called “flat stones.” In this orientation, other stones can be stacked on them. If they are stood on end, they are called “standing stones” or “walls.” Nothing can be stacked atop a standing stone, but these do not count as part of a player’s road. Depending on the size of the game, players may also have capstones, which can can come in many decorative shapes. Capstones serve as both a flat stone and a wall, and can also flatten standing walls.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Maldito Games
- Cheapass Games
- Greater Than Games, LLC
- James Ernest Games
- Wyrmwood Gaming
Questions and answers
Tak supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Tak is 20–60 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 Tak for ages 12 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.
Tak has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Tak belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Grid Movement, and Network and Route Building. 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 Tak are: James Ernest and Patrick Rothfuss. 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 Tak 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.