
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,579
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Eureka
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1988

1985
Rules assistance for The American Goldrush 1849
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.
The American Goldrush 1849 is a board game released in 1985 for 2–10 players, 20–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jean du Poël and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling.
The players start in Fort Sutter with various equipment and some rations. Either pan gold in the rivers, or dig gold out of the hills. Perils such as grizzlies, pumas, and bandits can cause set backs. To win the player who survives to bring the most gold back to the Fort wins.
The American Goldrush 1849 supports 2–10 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 The American Goldrush 1849 is 20–120 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 The American Goldrush 1849 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.
The American Goldrush 1849 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.
The American Goldrush 1849 belongs to these categories: Economic and American West. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Roll / Spin and Move, and Dice Rolling. 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 The American Goldrush 1849 are: Jean du Poël. 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 The American Goldrush 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.