- BGG rank
- BGG #487
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Pillars of the Earth
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,010
- BGG rating
- 7.2
World Without End
2009
Rules assistance for World Without End
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for World Without End
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
World Without End is a board game released in 2009 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Random Production.
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About the game
Die Tore der Welt / World Without End is based on the novel by Ken Follett, a sequel to his bestselling The Pillars of the Earth. This is the 2009 game in the Kosmos line of literature-based games. World Without End shares the Kingsbridge location of the earlier novel, but occurs 200 years later. Similarly, the game shares many themes but is a new standalone game. As citizens of Kingsbridge, players need to take care of the following areas: Building, Trading, Religion, Feeding, and Medical Knowledge. Each turn an event card is flipped that defines available player actions. Victory points can be won in numerous ways, e.g. by creating buildings or taking care of sick people.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Kaissa Chess & Games
- Galakta
- Giochi Uniti
- KOSMOS
- 999 Games
- Mayfair Games
- Filosofia Éditions
Questions and answers
World Without End 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 World Without End is 90–120 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 World Without End for ages 12 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.
World Without End has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
World Without End belongs to these categories: Economic, Medieval, and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Random Production. 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 World Without End are: Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler. 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 World Without End 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.