Ruins
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 40 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.3 / 5
- Year
- 2025
About the game
Ruins is a shedding card game where two to five players craft unique transparent cards while racing to uncover ancient ruins and treasure. On your turn, you upgrade a card by layering another transparent card on top of it, and these upgrades can stack into powerful combinations, like a single card that plays as four different values at once. Each player only gets to claim two cards during the entire game, making every claim a meaningful long-term decision. Games run about 40 minutes, and the first player to play their last card triggers the final scoring.
Hobbli's Notes
Designer John D. Clair is well known for transparent card-layering designs like Mystic Vale, and Ruins brings that same satisfying combo-building to a quick shedding-race format. The tension of only getting to claim two cards the whole game forces some genuinely tough decisions early on. It's quick enough to fit into most game nights while still rewarding clever card construction. The ancient-ruins theme is mostly a light backdrop for the mechanism, but the card crafting itself is engaging enough to carry the experience.
What we like
- Signature transparent-card layering creates satisfying combo-building.
- Quick 40-minute playtime with real strategic depth.
- Shedding-race format keeps tension high until the end.
- Limiting players to two claimed cards makes each choice meaningful.
Keep in mind
- Transparent card components can be fragile or tricky to read.
- Shedding race can feel punishing if you fall behind early.
- Ancient-ruins theme mostly serves as a backdrop for the mechanism.
Who it's for
Good for card game fans who enjoy combo-building and shedding games, in groups of two to five, ages 13 and up.
