- BGG rank
- BGG #12,205
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Diceland: Space
- 2–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,598
- BGG rating
- 5.2
U.S. Patent No. 1
2001
Rules assistance for U.S. Patent No. 1
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.6/5
Rules assistant for U.S. Patent No. 1
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
U.S. Patent No. 1 is a board game released in 2001 for 3–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by James Ernest and Falko Goettsch and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Action Points.
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About the game
U.S, Patent Number 1 is a racing game. Every player is a scientist who has invented time travel, and now everyone is racing to the Patent Office to prove who invented it first. Because you have a time machine, it's not enough to get to the Patent Office fast. You actually have to go back in time, to the day the Patent Office opened! During this race you will upgrade your machine with some gadgets, including a power plant, a chassis, a weapon, and a shield. You can invent these things on your own, you can buy them, or you can steal them from the other players. Only a machine with all four upgrades qualifies to earn the patent, and you have a limited supply of money and power to spend. Awards 2001 Origins Award Nominee: Best Science Fiction / Fantasy board game
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Cheapass Games
Questions and answers
U.S. Patent No. 1 supports 3–6 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 U.S. Patent No. 1 is 60 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 U.S. Patent No. 1 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.
U.S. Patent No. 1 has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
U.S. Patent No. 1 belongs to these categories: Fighting, Racing, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Action Points. 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 U.S. Patent No. 1 are: James Ernest and Falko Goettsch. 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 U.S. Patent No. 1 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.