- BGG rank
- BGG #1,669
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Turn the Tide
1997
Rules assistance for Turn the Tide
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Turn the Tide
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Turn the Tide is a board game released in 1997 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Stefan Dorra and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
About the game
Players are dealt a hand of 12 from a deck of 1-60 (the remainder go back in the box for the whole game), and then lay out marker cards that show the other players the strength of their hand. Another scoring deck of 24 has values of 1-12; two cards from this deck are laid face up. Players choose one card from their hand in secret and reveal them simultaneously. The highest value played takes the lowest scoring card, which goes face-up to a pile in front of you. The second highest takes the other card likewise. Remaining cards are discounted. Then look at everyone's face-up deck: the highest scoring player turns one of his or her marker cards over! (The original game had cockatoos becoming cuckoos; this edition is themed on lifesavers). At the end of a round, players score according to their markers cards that they managed to save (cockatoos or life-savers). There is a further twist! Players then pick up all their playing hand, and pass it clockwise. So as each round commences, you are using the cards previously used by your neighbor! Are you smarter? Can you make a better fist of the same hand your neighbor had? Play out rounds until all players have had each hand. Top score wins.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- PS-Games
- Arclight Games
- Wargames Club Publishing
- AMIGO
- Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
- F.X. Schmid
- Dal Negro
- 999 Games
- Berliner Spielkarten
- Fractal Juegos
- Lifestyle Boardgames Ltd
- Gamewright
- Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
- Neptuno Games
- Oya
- Kikigagne?
- DiceTree Games
- Nasza Księgarnia
- Mercurio
- Primigenio
- Funbox Editora
Questions and answers
Turn the Tide supports 3–5 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 Turn the Tide is 30 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 Turn the Tide for ages 10 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.
Turn the Tide 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.
Turn the Tide belongs to these categories: Card Game and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Turn the Tide are: Stefan Dorra. 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 Turn the Tide 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.