
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Unreliable Wizard and the Unstable Spirit Towers
- 1 player
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2022

2022
Rules assistance for Unreliable Wizard
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Unreliable Wizard is a board game released in 2022 for 1 player, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kamibayashi (カミバヤシ) and its main mechanics are Card Play Conflict Resolution.
You are an apprentice wizard tasked by the King with destroying the Demon Lord and thus saving the Princess. This card based solo game has you advancing along the map fighting enemy minions and gathering new magic and traveling companions to assist along the way. The game consists of 32 cards. you move your wizard along the map and pay Life Points to cross terrain. Certain terrain are battle points where you battle enemy minions. You use your hand of cards to create magic by matching certain magic patterns, your traveling companions may apply skills as well. If you defeat the evil minions you gain more cards which may contain magic or traveling companions. If you defeat the Demon King at the end of the map you win!
Unreliable Wizard supports 1 player 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 Unreliable Wizard 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.
The catalogue lists Unreliable Wizard 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.
Unreliable Wizard has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Unreliable Wizard belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Card Play Conflict Resolution. 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 Unreliable Wizard are: Kamibayashi (カミバヤシ). 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 Unreliable Wizard 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.