- BGG rank
- BGG #8,096
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Enemy Anemone
- 2–6 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,046
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Woodlanders
2025
Rules assistance for Woodlanders
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 20–40 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Woodlanders
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Woodlanders is a board game released in 2025 for 3–4 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Daniel Newman and its main mechanics are Trick-taking.
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About the game
There’s work to be done in the forest and, as usual, nobody wants to be the Warden. All the animals are hoping someone else will step up. A meeting has been called, with representatives from each of the five most influential species: Badgers, Deer, Foxes, Owls, and Rabbits. Each, in turn, refusing to be the Warden until only one is left. However, if an animal who refused to take charge winds up getting caught giving orders? Well, that won’t go well for them. Must-follow trick taking. Trump each round is determined by players drafting what they do not want to be trump (which also becomes their pain suit). 5 suits, with each suit containing four 1s, three 2s, two 3s, and one 4. Players can play one or two cards of the same suit into a trick (4s must be played alone). The winner of the trick collects all the cards played into the trick and scores 1 point per card - UNLESS there are any of their pain suit in the trick, in which case they only collect the pain suit cards and score -1 point per card.
Questions and answers
Woodlanders supports 3–4 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 Woodlanders is 20–40 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 Woodlanders 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.
Woodlanders 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.
Woodlanders belongs to these categories: Card Game and Animals. Its main mechanics are Trick-taking. 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 Woodlanders are: Daniel Newman. 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 Woodlanders 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.