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Dale of Merchants
- 2–4 players
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Zwickern
1999
Rules assistance for Zwickern
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 30–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for Zwickern
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zwickern is a board game released in 1999 for 3–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Team-Based Game.
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About the game
Zwickern is a public-domain card game of the fishing variety, in which the game starts with a pool of cards on the table and players try to claim these cards for points by using the cards in their hands. Most cards have a single number in the corner to show their value when being played, while some cards have two numbers (e.g., 2/12) and cards like these can be either value when played or when lying on the table; each card also has a victory point value. On a turn, a player plays one card from her hand and either: Buys cards from the display (using an 8, for example, to buy a 5 and 3, or an 8, or all three cards) Builds a pile of cards (by adding or subtracting the card played with a card or pile already on the table, or vice versa) Plays to the table (making the card available for piles or buys on future turns) After players play out the few cards in their hand, they receive a few more cards. After a certain number of rounds, the game ends and players sum the points of the cards they've collected, earning additional points for collecting the most cards and for buying all cards on display during a turn. The player with the most points wins.
Editions
- ZwickerndeQueen Games1999
Categories
Publishers
- (Public Domain)
- Queen Games
Questions and answers
Zwickern 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 Zwickern is 30–45 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 Zwickern 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.
Zwickern has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Zwickern belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Team-Based Game. 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 catalogue lists Zwickern 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.