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Vulcanus
2019
Rules assistance for Vulcanus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60–80 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Vulcanus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Vulcanus is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 60–80 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Masato Uesugi and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Income, and Point to Point Movement.
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About the game
Vulcanus (ボルカルス) pits one monster player against 1-3 teams of humans, who must co-operate in order to take down the monster. In more detail, the monster "Vulcanus" has suddenly appeared from the crater of Mount Fuji, the monster being a ruthless giant that erupts lava from its whole body and that continues to evolve and grow as it creates a path of scorched earth on its way toward Japan's capital, Tokyo. The more casualties you create, the more areas you burn, and the more landmarks you destroy, the closer the monster player is to victory. The Japanese government has set up a "Monster Disaster Emergency Headquarters", and the human players facing off against Vulcanus must learn how to repel monsters by evacuating citizens, extinguishing fires, deploying Self-Defense Forces, and conducting investigations. The more research you've conducted, the more options you will have for your strategy, and ultimately you will be able to manage the situation with a direct attack on the monster. Sometimes the monster can detect the humans' operation and ruin their plans, so will Tokyo perish in the end? Or will the monster fall instead?
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Drosselmeyer & Co. Ltd.
- I Was Game
Questions and answers
Vulcanus supports 2–4 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 Vulcanus is 60–80 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 Vulcanus 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.
Vulcanus has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Vulcanus belongs to these categories: Wargame. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Income, and Point to Point Movement. 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 Vulcanus are: Masato Uesugi. 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 Vulcanus 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.