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Carcassonne

Hans im Glück, 64 Ounce Games, 999 Games · Board game · 2000
2–5 · best 2 30–45 min Weight 1.9/5
8.3 rating Ludopedia
7.4 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 19.95
8.3 rating Ludopedia
7.4 rating BGG
Buy · from US$ 19.95 How to Play Ask about Rules
Our Verdict

If you're looking for a delightful and accessible tile-laying game, Carcassonne is a classic for a reason! It's a collaborative puzzle with a clever twist of strategic meeple placement.

Highlights
  • Simple rules, quick to learn
  • Engaging tile-laying puzzle
  • Iconic meeple placement strategy
  • Scales well across player counts
Keep in mind
  • Can feel a bit random sometimes
  • Direct player interaction is limited
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
Carcassonne transports you to the south of France, where you and your friends build a medieval landscape tile by tile! Each round, you draw a tile that might feature a piece of a city, a winding road, a tranquil cloister, or a verdant field. The trick is that you need to fit this tile into the existing map, connecting roads to roads, cities to cities, and so on. It's like assembling a collaborative puzzle, but with a touch of rivalry. After placing the tile, you have the chance to place one of your meeples (those super cute wooden figures that, by the way, were popularized by this game!) on a newly added area. Place a knight in the city, a robber on the road, a monk in the cloister, or a farmer in the field. The big question is: is it worth using one of your limited meeples here? They remain trapped until the area is completed, and only then do they return to your hand and score points. Completed cities and roads yield immediate points, cloisters score when surrounded by other tiles, and farmers? Oh, these are the most strategic, staying in the field until the end of the game, waiting for the point harvest! Decisions are quick but full of weight: expand your own area or disrupt your opponent's plan? Carcassonne is a modern classic, accessible for beginners, but with a depth that attracts experienced players in tournaments worldwide. It's the perfect game for anyone looking for an engaging tabletop experience with infinite replayability.
Expansions
Carcassonne Maps: Chips Carcassonne Maps: Deutschland Carcassonne Maps: Great Britain Carcassonne Maps: Península Ibérica Carcassonne: 4 Seasons – The Spring Carcassonne: Abbey & Mayor Carcassonne: Bonusplättchen Spiel 2020 Carcassonne: Bonusplättchen Spiel 2022 Carcassonne: Castles in Germany Carcassonne: Circus & Artists Carcassonne: Corn Circles II Carcassonne: Cult, Siege & Creativity Carcassonne: Das Labyrinth Carcassonne: Der Tunnel Carcassonne: Die Windrosen Carcassonne: Dragon & Fairy Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber Carcassonne: Expansion 8 – Bridges, Castles and Bazaars Carcassonne: GQ Promo Tiles Carcassonne: Halb so Wild Carcassonne: Halb so wild I Carcassonne: Inns & Cathedrals Carcassonne: King & Scout Carcassonne: Little Buildings Carcassonne: Mage & Witch Carcassonne: Messengers & Mayors Carcassonne: Mini-Bundle I Carcassonne: Sheep & Shepherds Carcassonne: Siege & Defense Carcassonne: Spiel Doch Mini Expansion Carcassonne: Spiel Doch! Expansion Carcassonne: Starttableau Carcassonne: The Abbot Carcassonne: The Barber-Surgeons Carcassonne: The Count of Carcassonne Carcassonne: The Cult Carcassonne: The Drawbridges Carcassonne: The Ferries Carcassonne: The Festival Carcassonne: The Flying Machines Carcassonne: The Fruit-Bearing Trees Carcassonne: The Gifts Carcassonne: The Gold Mines Carcassonne: The Land Surveyors Carcassonne: The Messengers Carcassonne: The Peasant Revolts Carcassonne: The Phantom Carcassonne: The Plague Carcassonne: The River Carcassonne: The River II Carcassonne: The Robbers Carcassonne: The School Carcassonne: The Signposts Carcassonne: The Tollkeepers Carcassonne: The Watchtowers Carcassonne: The Wonders of Humanity Carcassonne: The Wonders of Humanity Set II Carcassonne: Towers & Thieves Carcassonne: Traders & Builders Carcassonne: Ukraine Promo Tile Nebel über Carcassonne: Die Bannkreise
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Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Carcassonne English · PDF
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Game details

Mechanics

Area Majority / Influence Enclosure Kill Steal Map Addition Pattern Building Square Grid Tile Placement

Categories

Medieval Territory Building

Families

Category: DIZED Tutorial Cities: Carcassonne (France) Components: Meeples Components: Map (Regional scale) Components: Wooden pieces & boards Containers: Tin/Metal Box Country: France Digital Implementations: Apple App Store Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Digital Implementations: BrettspielWelt Digital Implementations: Google Play Digital Implementations: Steam Digital Implementations: VASSAL Game: Carcassonne Misc: BGG Hall of Fame Misc: Dice Tower Hall of Fame Misc: Watch It Played How To Videos Occupation: Farmer Players: Games with expansions that change player count Region: Languedoc (France) Religious: Monks/Abbots & Monasteries/Abbeys
Publisher Hans im Glück, 64 Ounce Games, 999 Games, Albi, Astrel Games, Bard Centrum Gier
Designer Klaus-Jürgen Wrede
Artist Anne Pätzke, Chris Quilliams, Doris Matthäus, Franz-Georg Stämmele, Marcel Gröber
Community
225,500 owners
0 wishlist
0 played
225,500 interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Carcassonne?
Carcassonne is ideal for 2 to 5 players, but it works great at any count within that range. With two, it becomes a more direct duel; with more people, the competition for areas gets even more intense!
What is the average playtime for a game of Carcassonne?
A game of Carcassonne usually lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. It's quick, which makes it great for a casual play session or to fit between other games.
Is Carcassonne a complex game for beginners?
Not at all! Carcassonne is considered one of the best "gateway games" in the board game world. The rules are easy to pick up, and fun is guaranteed from the first game. Strategic complexity increases the more you play.
What are the main components of the game?
You'll find a bunch of landscape tiles, which are the heart of the game, and the famous colorful meeples, which you use to claim areas. It's a game with few components, but very well produced.
Who is Carcassonne recommended for?
Carcassonne is recommended for almost everyone! Families, groups of friends, couples, hobby newcomers, and even experienced players looking for a light yet strategic classic. If you enjoy puzzles and a bit of territorial dispute, you'll love it.
Are there any expansions for Carcassonne?
Yes, and many! Carcassonne has a vast collection of expansions that add new mechanics, tiles, and special meeples, increasing the replayability and depth of the base game. It's a universe to explore!
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