
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,392
- BGG rating
- 5.2
UWO
- 2 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2004

2006
Rules assistance for Tavern
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tavern is a board game released in 2006 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Thomas Jansen and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
"Dwarfs, elves, orcs and other strange beings visit your tavern. Try to serve them enough drinks, but don't let it get out of hand!" Each player is the owner of a tavern. They try to attract customers with musician cards. They collect points by serving their guests drinks and keeping them in their tavern as long as they can (for example, if there are many dwarfs in your tavern, all the elves will go out). The player who has collected most points after 2 rounds (day and night) is the winner of the game.
Tavern 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 Tavern is 45 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 Tavern 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.
Tavern has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Tavern belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Humor. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. 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 Tavern are: Thomas Jansen. 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 Tavern 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.