- BGG rating
- 7.0
Upstream: Human Impact
- 2–5 players
- 25–40 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,766
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Upstream
2017
Rules assistance for Upstream
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 25–40 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Upstream
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Upstream is a board game released in 2017 for 2–5 players, 25–40 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Víctor Samitier and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Grid Movement, and Modular Board.
Expansions
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About the game
Every spring, the melted snow fills the riverbeds, opening the way back home for the salmon after a life swimming in the oceans. In Upstream, each player controls a bank of salmon swimming upstream to lay their eggs where they were born. During their journey, they will face hungry bears, fierce birds of prey, and patient fishermen, all of which they must avoid in order to survive. These are not the only hazards the salmon must face as each round of play the strength of the water flow will cause some pieces of the river to fall back, making it impossible for some fishes to make their way upstream. The game is played in rounds, with each player spending five points among their salmon tokens in order to move them, either swimming or jumping across the hexagonal tiled river. At the end of each round, the lowermost pieces of the river are removed from the game, along with any salmon tokens standing on them, then three new tiles are added to the uppermost side of the river. The game ends when all salmon are either deceased or on the spawn point at the very end of the river. Players then score points, according to the number and order of arrival of their salmon. The player with most points wins.
Designers
Publishers
- Muduko
- 2Tomatoes Games
Questions and answers
Upstream supports 2–5 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 Upstream is 25–40 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 Upstream 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.
Upstream has a complexity rating of 1.9 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.
Upstream belongs to these categories: Animals, Abstract Strategy, and Racing. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Grid Movement, and Modular Board. 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 Upstream are: Víctor Samitier. 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 Upstream 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.