Back

How to Play

The Shipwreck Arcana

2-5 players 10-30 min 7.4 Board Game Geek Rating

In this cooperative deduction game, players trapped in a sunken world must predict each other's numbered fate tiles to escape. The active player silently places their fate on mystical cards with specific placement rules, giving allies clues to deduce which fate remains hidden. Cards eventually fade into helpful one-time powers as new ones appear. Victory requires careful resource management and logical reasoning about where fates were—and weren't—played.

Published 2017

The Shipwreck Arcana

Get Ready

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

1
Place time card
Position the time card on the left edge of the play area with the green score marker at 0
2
Set difficulty
Place the red disaster marker according to difficulty level:
3
Prepare arcana deck
Shuffle the arcana cards thoroughly and place face-up as a draw pile
4
Create card row
Draw 4 arcana cards from the top of the deck and arrange them to the right of the time card
5
Distribute number tokens
Give each player one set of number tokens (1-7) in matching colors; return unused sets to the box if fewer than 5 players
6
Prepare fate bag
Place all 21 fate tokens into the bag and mix well, then place the bag in the center of the play area
7
Select starting player
Choose a starting player; turns proceed clockwise

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
1. Replenish fate tokens
Draw fate tokens from the bag until you have exactly 2 tokens; keep them hidden from other players and do not look at other tokens in the bag
2
2. Play a fate token
Place one of your fate tokens on any of the 5 cards in the center (4 arcana cards + 1 time card)
3
3. Prediction (optional)
Non-active players may attempt one prediction of the fate token remaining in your hand
4
4. Resolution
Resolve the prediction if one was made
5
5. Fading
Check each arcana card for fading at turn's end
6
Fading powers usage
Each faded card's back shows a one-time-use power
7
Communication restriction
All players must not reveal information about their fate tokens; active players should not speak except when answering predictions

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Victory condition
Players win immediately when the green score marker reaches 7, meaning 7 correct predictions have been made
2
Defeat condition
Players lose immediately when the red disaster marker reaches 7
3
Cumulative disasters
In a single turn, disaster can advance from both an incorrect prediction (+1) and faded cards (+2 each)

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Hoe speel je The Shipwreck Arcana? (#481 )

Hoe speel je The Shipwreck Arcana? (#481 )

Instructional

How To Play The Shipwreck Arcana - Board Games Live Teach

How To Play The Shipwreck Arcana - Board Games Live Teach

Instructional

MORE VIDEOS

FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

Play Board Games Online

Explore breakout hits and fan favourites with no downloads, setup or paywalls. Just click and play.

Play Now

more GAMES LIKE THIS

Pagan: Fate of Roanoke

Pagan: Fate of Roanoke

Regicide

Regicide

Mysterium

Mysterium

Fugitive

Fugitive