Top 15 · #11 of 40 in Strategy
Lost Ruins of Arnak
A standout exploration game in which you explore the unknown island of Arnak, combining worker placement, deck building, and a research track to dig into the secrets of the ruins. What sets it apart is having to run a double engine: you play cards to make resources, and spend those resources to send workers out to the sites again.
Rules
1. Setup
Set out the site board and the research track (magnifying glass and notebook), and give each player the same starting deck, resources, and personal board. The temple tiles and guardian cards are laid out at random each game, so the terrain differs.
2. Turn flow
You play cards from your hand in order to gain resources and arrowheads, then spend them to send an archaeologist to a site to gain resources, take on temple tiles and guardians, or move up the research track. You decide for yourself whether to play a card or send a worker next, so you can fine-tune the flow of your resources.
3. Key rules
You can only get a temple tile by beating its guardian with arrowheads, and every step up the research track gives you a reward (a card, resources, or victory points). Only one worker may go to the same site in a round, so players race to claim the good spots first.
4. End condition
After five rounds, you total up research points, guardian points, and card points, and the highest score wins.
Rule summaries are reference content written by us, not quotations from the official rulebook. Always check the official rulebook for exact rules.
💡 Master tip
Early on it matters to move up the research track quickly to open up your view, and to clear the low-value cards piling up in your deck so your engine runs better. Claiming the popular site spaces early in the round works in your favor.
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Tools you can request
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Research track reward guide
Reminder of the rewards you gain as the magnifying glass and notebook move up
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