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Snails
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2024
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- BGG rating
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Turning Tides
2022
Rules assistance for Turning Tides
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 15–45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Turning Tides
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Turning Tides is a board game released in 2022 for 2 players, 15–45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Rick Brune, Pepijn van den Bosch, and Jasper Wille and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Modular Board, and Slide / Push.
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About the game
Turning Tides is a naval battle between two players. Each player takes control of a ship that they will have to manage. During rounds the ships will sail past each other zone for zone in a modular style. During each step of sailing, players will be able to draw and play an action card which will either help them place new sailors and cannons on their ship, utilize movement of units or the ships themselves, or attack the enemy ship. Play happens simultaneously throughout the game, which means the game has little idle time. In between rounds players have the option of swapping cards from- and into their playing deck, which changes the capabilities of each player for the next round. You win a game by either destroying three zones on the enemy ship to sink them, or get rid of the entire enemy crew as to set them adrift into the rocks. You will have to position your crewmen and cannons tactically to do as much damage to the enemy boat as possible, all the while trying to avoid your opponent from doing the same to you. Aside from that, you have your captain to think about. Losing them is a costly mistake and will give opponent the upper hand. A game focused on patience, tactics and outwitting your opponent.
Publishers
- Never Be Boardgames
Questions and answers
Turning Tides supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Turning Tides is 15–45 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 Turning Tides for ages 14 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.
Turning Tides has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Turning Tides belongs to these categories: Card Game, Nautical, and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Modular Board, and Slide / Push. 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 Turning Tides are: Rick Brune, Pepijn van den Bosch, and Jasper Wille. 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 Turning Tides 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.