- BGG rating
- 7.2
The Mystic Wood Extension Kit
- 1–7 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1982
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,229
- BGG rating
- 6.5
The Mystic Wood
1980
Rules assistance for The Mystic Wood
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Mystic Wood
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Mystic Wood is a board game released in 1980 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Terence Peter Donnelly and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Trading.
Expansions
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,700
- BGG rating
- 6.5
The Sorcerer's Cave
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1978
- BGG rank
- BGG #7
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
- 3–6 players
- 240–480 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,487
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Euthia: Torment of Resurrection
- 1–4 players
- 60–480 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,837
- BGG rating
- 7.8
CoraQuest
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,560
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Maladum: Dungeons of Enveron
- 1–6 players
- 45–120 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,885
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Captain's Log
- 1–4 players
- 60–240 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,672
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Dragons Down
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,044
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Dinosaurs of the Lost World
- 1–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,252
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Dungeons of Doria
- 1–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,507
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Claustrophobia 1643
- 2 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,711
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Valor & Villainy: Minions of Mordak
- 2–6 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #199
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Xia: Legends of a Drift System
- 3–5 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2014
About the game
Players are knights seeking to perform a particular quest (varies with each knight) in order to win the game. Exploration and adventure are created by the game board being made up of randomly placed tiles which are uncovered as the knights reach them. Tiles can be fixed locations or glades where a randomly chosen role card can reveal a spell or a denizen. Denizens act in different ways, depending upon its nature or the throw of a die. Some help the knights, others hinder. Players compete against each other, but can also work together to defeat a denizen. The first knight to complete his or her quest and exit the Mystic Wood wins the game. Expanded by: The Mystic Wood Extension Kit
Designers
Publishers
- Gibsons
- H. P. Gibson & Sons
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Ariel Productions Ltd
Questions and answers
The Mystic Wood supports 2–4 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 Mystic Wood is 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 The Mystic Wood 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 Mystic Wood has a complexity rating of 1.5 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 Mystic Wood belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Race, and Trading. 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 Mystic Wood are: Terence Peter Donnelly. 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 Mystic Wood 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.