How to Play

K2

1-5 players 60-60 min 7.0 Board Game Geek Rating

Players control two-climber mountaineering teams racing to summit the deadly K2 mountain. Using identical card decks, you move climbers upward, acclimatize to altitude, or shelter from harsh weather. Opponents can block routes while dangerous conditions threaten your team's survival. Victory goes to whoever successfully reaches the peak and returns alive first.

Published 2010

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Choose difficulty

Select the easy or difficult route on the game board

Select player color

Each player chooses a color and takes 4 climbers, 2 tents, 2 condition markers, 18 playing cards, a rescue card (family variant only), and a player board

Place climbers on score track

Place 2 different climbers on the lowest scoring field of the game board

Position starting climbers

Place the other 2 different climbers at the start (at the foot of the mountain)

Set condition markers

Place a condition meter on your player board at value "1" for both climbers

Prepare hand cards

Each player shuffles their card set (except the rescue card) and draws the top 6 cards into their hand

Set up weather cards

Choose summer or winter side, shuffle weather cards, and place 2 cards face-up at the top of the board showing a 6-day weather forecast

Place weather marker

Put the weather stone on day 1

Prepare danger tokens

Place danger tokens face-down beside the board and flip 3 tokens face-up

Choose starting player

Select who will go first

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Phase 1 - Select cards

All players simultaneously choose 3 cards from their hand and place them face-down, then reveal all cards at once

Phase 2 - Resolve danger tokens

Calculate movement value (walking cards + rope cards upward value only; condition cards don't count); player with highest movement value takes one of the 3 face-up danger tokens

Phase 3 - Take actions

Players take turns starting with the start player, proceeding clockwise; play your 3 selected cards for these actions:

Apply danger token effects

If you have a danger token, apply during your turn:

Phase 4 - Check condition

Apply effects based on climber positions:

Phase 5 - End turn

Pass start player token to the left; advance weather stone one space; draw a new weather card if entering a new card; each player draws 3 new cards from their deck

Rescue card (family variant)

Save one deceased climber and place them below 6000m; that climber's score marker drops 4 spaces

Passing through occupied spaces

A climber may pass through a full plateau if they have enough movement points to continue beyond it