- BGG rank
- BGG #4,394
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Tribes: Dawn of Humanity
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,015
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Tribes: Early Civilization
2017
Rules assistance for Tribes: Early Civilization
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–50 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Tribes: Early Civilization
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tribes: Early Civilization is a board game released in 2017 for 1–4 players, 30–50 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Rustan Håkansson and its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Guide your tribe in its struggles to survive and prosper! Tribes: Early Civilization is a game for 2-4 players (The game does include rules for solo play as well) experiencing the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze ages in 40 minutes. Players start with a small tribe and the very basics of civilization. During the game, they invent new technologies, explore new land, fend off invaders, and survive catastrophes. The tribe that first emerges as a true civilization wins! Tribes: Early Civilization is a thematic prequel to Nations, designed by one of the Nations designers. It is a fast 3X game with a twist as each player has their own separate area to explore, expand, and exploit. The other two areas of the game are highly interactive: The variable three-tiered technology tree in which the first inventor gets a bonus. The actions column in which you take an action every turn and unwanted actions accumulate shells in a closed system. There are three basic actions tied to your civilization levels: explore, move and grow. The actions column is also where historical events come into play and where the fourth civilization level — strength — is used to gain you bonuses and make bad things happen to your opponents. Several interlocking systems ensure high replayability without adding overhead or upkeep. For example: in one game shells can feel very scarce and the next abundant despite the exact same amounts being in play.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Tea Time Productions
Questions and answers
Tribes: Early Civilization 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 Tribes: Early Civilization is 30–50 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 Tribes: Early Civilization 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.
Tribes: Early Civilization has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Tribes: Early Civilization belongs to these categories: Territory Building, Exploration, and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Grid Movement. 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 Tribes: Early Civilization are: Rustan Håkansson. 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 Tribes: Early Civilization 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.