
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,651
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Covert Action
- 4–14 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2007

1997
Rules assistance for Thin Ice
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Thin Ice is a board game released in 1997 for 2–8 players and 15 minutes per game. It was designed by Jacob Davenport.
The first time you see Icehouse Pieces, you want to build something with them. This quick party game pits your balancing skills against that of others, allowing you to build piles up from three base pieces, but not allowing any easy stacking. The last pile standing wins.
Thin Ice supports 2–8 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 Thin Ice is 15 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.
Thin Ice has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Thin Ice belongs to these categories: Party Game and Action / Dexterity. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Thin Ice and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Thin Ice are: Jacob Davenport. 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 Thin Ice 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.