12 Rivers
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Pay resources to place your tribe further upstream. As the pearls roll down the rivers, everyone holds their breath: which color will reach your marker? And how many will it take to conquer the village?
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Twelve rivers, magical pearls, and a village to make prosper
Designed by Romain Caterdjian and published by Good Games Publishing, 12 Rivers puts you in the shoes of a tribe leader exploring the legendary rivers flowing down from a mystical mountain lake. Each river carries colorful pearls that your people must collect to bring to the village downstream and ensure another year of prosperity.
You pay field cards (resources) to place your 3 tribe markers along the 12 rivers. Whoever pays more goes further upstream and chooses first. Then the pearls are released and roll down: you collect one pearl at each marker you placed, store it on your llama, then deliver them to the villagers you recruit to score points. Use multi-use card drafting, block opponents' pearls, and complete objectives before others to maximize your score in 5 rounds.
What they say abroad
12 Rivers combines classic mechanics with a physical execution that keeps you on the edge of your seat every round.
— FroGames
The game is an ambitious first release. As soon as we have more plays and international reviews, we will update this card with more complete impressions.
— FroGames
12 Rivers
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat you find in the box
Pearls, llamas, fairies, and multi-use cards
Magic Pearls
Physical colored pearls that roll along the 12 rivers. The most iconic moment: you release them, and everyone breathlessly follows their path downstream.
Alpaca Llamas
Each player has their own Alpaca on which to temporarily store collected pearls before delivering them to villagers to score points.
Fairy Tokens
Collect fairies along the rivers to get special aid and bonuses that can turn the game around at the right moment.
Field Cards
Multi-use cards that you use as resources to place your tribe, but also to activate special powers. Choosing when to play them is the tactical core of the game.
Recommended Sleeves 55 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 43.5 × 67 mm | 55 |
| Total cards | 55 |
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The Flow of Each Round
Each round follows the same sequence: draft, placement, rolling, collecting.
Everyone chooses a card from their hand and passes the rest to their neighbor until none are left. These cards are your resources for placing your tribe and activating powers.
In turns, you place your 3 tribe tokens in slots along the rivers, paying field cards. The more you pay, the further upstream you go (and the earlier you choose).
All pearls are released simultaneously and roll down the rivers. Collect one pearl at each token you placed and put it on your Alpaca.
Transfer the collected pearls from your Alpaca to the villagers you recruit, completing their set requirements to score points and unlock bonuses. Then the next round begins.
⏱️Your First GameThe moment-by-moment chronicle▼
A game in five moments
What Happens at the Table
Not the rules. The experience.
Choosing Field Cards
Everyone drafts field cards: each person chooses a card from their hand and passes the rest to their neighbor. You look at the colors of pearls needed by the villagers and start planning where to place your tribe. The tension is low, but your brain is already working.
Tribe Placement
In turns, you place your 3 tribe tokens along the rivers, paying field cards. Whoever pays more goes upstream and chooses first. Someone sneaks into the middle of the river hoping the pearls will arrive, while someone else invests everything to block the best spot.
The Pearls Roll
You release the pearls, and everyone holds their breath. They roll down the 12 rivers, stopping at tribe tokens or continuing to the lake. The color you hoped for doesn't arrive. The one you didn't want ends up on your Alpaca. Laughter and expletives.
Recruiting Villagers
You deliver the collected pearls to the villagers you recruit from the village. Each villager wants specific color sets and gives you points and bonuses. Someone completes an Alpaca objective before you and snatches the reward.
End of the Fifth Round
After 5 rounds, you count points: completed villagers, Alpaca objectives, fairy bonuses. The player who has best made the village prosper wins. Someone won by one point because a pearl rolled the right way in the last turn.
🐸What to Know BeforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to Know Beforehand
Three Things You Need to Know
Pearls can roll badly
The physical component is beautiful, but it also means that sometimes pearls end up where you don't want them. If you seek total control, this unpredictability can be frustrating.
Minimal but present downtime
With 4 players, waiting for everyone to place their tokens can slightly extend the game time. It's not a serious problem, but those who hate waiting will notice it.
Table space management
The 12 rivers + Alpaca + villagers require space. If your table is small, you'll need to organize well or play standing up.
🏆Victory and DefeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it Ends
How to Win and How to Lose
After 5 rounds, the player with the most points from delivering pearls to villagers and completing objectives wins.
Victory
- You complete the pearl sets required by the most valuable villagers and accumulate points faster than your opponents.
- You collect Alpaca objectives by being the first to complete specific color sets.
- You use Fairy tokens at the right moment to gain decisive bonuses.
Defeat
- You place your tribe too far downstream, and the best pearls go to your opponents.
- You fail to complete villagers and accumulate unused pearls on your Alpaca.
- Opponents complete Alpaca objectives before you and snatch the bonuses.
12 Rivers transforms classic worker placement into a physical and family-friendly experience that even works with those who have never entered a board game store.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about 12 Rivers
What mechanics does 12 Rivers use?
Worker placement with bidding for position, multi-use card drafting, set collection with pearls, and physical removal (pearls roll down the rivers). All seasoned with variable objectives and end-game bonuses.
Is it suitable for casual players?
Yes, it's a great gateway game. The mechanics are intuitive, the theme helps to understand what to do, and the physical moment of the rolling pearls engages everyone. BGG weight 1.9, rules in 15 minutes.
Does it scale well for all player counts?
It works for 2 to 4 players. With 2, it's more tactical and deterministic; with 4, chaos and unpredictability increase. Game time grows slightly but remains under 75 minutes even with 4 players.
Are the pearls easily lost?
They are small, colored components, so yes: if you have small children or pets, put everything away at the end of the game. But they are also the game's strong point, so it's worth it.
Is it available in Italian?
This is the English edition from Good Games Publishing. The text on the cards is in English, but the rules are clear, and the game has low language dependency: with a translation of the rulebook, you can play without problems.
12 Rivers is a board game for 2-4 players designed by Romain Caterdjian and published by Good Games Publishing. It combines worker placement, multi-use card drafting, and set collection in a family-friendly structure of 45-75 minutes, recommended for ages 10+. The heart of the game is the physical moment when magical pearls roll down the 12 three-dimensional rivers, and players collect them to deliver to the villagers. With accessible yet tactically interesting mechanics, 12 Rivers is a great gateway game for families and a strategic filler for regular groups. Available on FroGames.it.
12 Rivers
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
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📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
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