The Carcassonne Board Game master page. A complete guide. Review, how to play, editorial, useful links, similar games, FAQ, interesting facts and so much more. Carcassonne is the clasic tile laying worker management game that inspired the term “meeple”.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Game Info
- Photo Gallery
- Overview
- Review
- How To Play
- Similar Games
- Interesting Facts
- Useful Links
- FAQ
- Editorial Articles
- Videos
- People Also Enjoyed
- Submit Something
CARCASSONNE GAME INFO
| RELEASE: | 2000 |
| PLAYERS: | 2 – 5 Players |
| DURATION: | 30 – 45 Minutes |
| AGE: | 7+ |
| GENRE: | Tile Laying / Worker Management |
| DESIGNER: | Klaus-Jürgen Wrede |
| ARTIST: | Doris Matthäus, Anne Pätzke, Chris Quilliams, Klaus-Jürgen Wrede |
| PUBLISHER: | Z-Man Games |
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CARCASSONNE PHOTO GALLERY
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CARCASSONNE OVERVIEW
Inspired by the medieval fortress in southern France of the same name, Carcassonne is a tile-laying game in which players fill in the countryside around the fortified city. Players choose from tiles that depict cities, roads, monasteries, and fields; each new tile placed creates an ever-expanding board on which players can then add their followers.
Players score points by having followers on features as they’re completed. The player who makes the most strategic placements of tiles and followers will score the most points and win the game.
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CARCASSONNE REVIEW
8.8 out of 10
When people talk about strategy (especially euro-strategy), Carcassonne is on that icon list. It was Settlers of Catan, it, Puerto Rico, Ticket to Ride, and Alhambra that paved the way for the genre in the late-nineties-early-2000s when board gaming was making a big resurgence. If you have not discovered it yet, now is the time. This makes the list of iconic games to start your collection with. Another simple to learn yet impossible to master strategy classic with a unique mechanic and just the right amount of player interaction. Huge recommend.
Read Our Carcassonne Review
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CARCASSONNE HOW TO PLAY
Carcassonne has players draw and place a tile with a piece of southern French landscape on it. The tile might feature a city, a road, a cloister, grassland or some combination thereof, and it must be placed adjacent to tiles that have already been played, in such a way that cities are connected to cities, roads to roads, etcetera. Then the player decides if they want to use their limited resources to claim it.
How to Play Carcassonne Step-By-Step
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CARCASSONNE SIMILAR GAMES
We thought about everything from gameplay to theme, intensity level to overall motivations, the quality and more to determine what are the five most similar board games to Carcassonne. The quick recap of the list is below with the link to the descriptions and full article below it.
- Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King
- Galaxy of Trian
- Infinite City
- Lisboa
- Castles of Burgundy
Full Games Like Carcassonne Article
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CARCASSONNE INTERESTING FACTS
**Send in your interesting facts
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CARCASSONNE USEFUL LINKS
If it is a topic that has not yet been covered, you can most likely find more information here on your topic of choice. From official Carcassonne useful links to very unofficial ones.
- Best Carcassonne Expansions
- Carcassonne Vs. (game showdowns)
- Official Carcassonne Webpage
- Publisher Avalon Hill’s Webpage
- Purchase Carcassonne on Amazon
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CARCASSONNE FAQ
What is a meeple?
A meeple is any figurine that represents a person.
Did the term “meeple” come from Carcassonne?
Yes. Meeple was coined in the year 2000 by Alison Hansel to describe the wooden figures in Carcassonne she was playing with.
What are the player colors in Carcassonne?
The player color options in the base game are Green, Black, Red, Blue and Yellow.
Who plays first in Carcassonne?
The youngest player goes first in Carcassonne.
What do I do with the figure with the hat in Carcassonne?
That is the Abbot, not used in the base game. The Abbot is an extra rule where you can have an extra meeple to put on grasslands.
How do I find the starting tile for Carcassonne?
If you turn all the tiles over, the starting tile has a darker back. It is a castle to one side and road going through it. Be careful, the river mini-expansion that comes with the game also has dark backs and may not be used.
What are the river tiles for in Carcassonne?
This is the river mini-expansion that comes with the game and is not required. These tiles will have a darkened back just like the starting tile. If you play rivers, all players start by taking turns playing the river cards first to get the board going.
Does the diagonal space count as “adjacent” in Carcassonne?
No. “Adjacent” is only tiles that are directly left, right, above or below.
What expansion should I buy for Carcassonne?
The expansions can be ok if you are looking for something new, but generally, they have not been too well received. People just see them as convoluted additions that take away from the pure original.
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CARCASSONNE EDITORIAL
10 Games to Start Your Board Game Collection
