- BGG rank
- BGG #14,362
- BGG rating
- 6.8
The Frozen Passage
2026
Rules assistance for The Frozen Passage
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for The Frozen Passage
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Frozen Passage is a board game released in 2026 for 1–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Emi Kuji and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Communication Limits.
About the game
The Northwest Passage. An elusive sea route along the northern coast of America that's said to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Since the 15th century, expeditions were launched with the dream of discovering it, only to then vanish in the icebergs. This is a cooperative game where you aim to connect 15 cards together while meeting the necessary conditions. But if you veer off course even slighty, your voyage will end in failure. Work together and predict which cards the other players hold, make use of items, and successfully traverse the route that humanity has dreamed of! The Frozen Passage is an exciting co-op game where players are part of an expedition team trying to navigate at sea, but the journey has become dangerous with lots of icebergs threatening to sink the ship. Players work together to successfully navigate through this dangerous journey and make it out safely. This is a board game filled with adventure and excitement, where you gradually expand and extend your path across the sea towards the goal cards. Which direction should you go? Should you use up your limited special items? Players are limited in how they can communicate, adding to the tension in this game. Players work together to arrange three colors of cards numbered 1 to 9 in an inverted pyramid shape, starting from the bottom and aiming for the goal cards at the top. If all players manage to place all of their cards, everyone wins. However, there are specific rules for how the cards must be arranged. If you lose focus on your turn, you might steer the ship towards disaster. Since everyone’s hand is hidden, you must try to complete the path by predicting each other's cards and helping each other out! —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Oink Games
Questions and answers
The Frozen Passage supports 1–4 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 The Frozen Passage is 20 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 Frozen Passage for ages 8 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 Frozen Passage has a complexity rating of 1.3 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 Frozen Passage belongs to these categories: Card Game, Travel, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Communication Limits. 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 Frozen Passage are: Emi Kuji. 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 Frozen Passage 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.