2023Chris Scaffidi, Mike Young
- Videos
- 23
- Creators
- 22
1 - 5 players90 - 120 minHeavy weight

2023Chris Scaffidi
From BoardGameGeek
You are a goblin land baron and member of the Hut Barons guild -- purveyors of magical real estate for weefolk, bigfolk, and everyone in between. Laid out in a square grid, the buildings of Cartref possess magical effects that vary depending on their residents. Use your wits and magic to amass the greatest wealth in the budding city of Cartref. On your turn, take 2 actions from the following options. (A) Build a new building and invoke the magic of adjacent goblin buildings. (B) Fulfill a guild Mandate and invoke the magic of bigfolk (human) buildings. (C) Impel the gnomes in one of your gnomish buildings to use their magic. (D) Purify the bad karma (pollution) emitted by the buildings so that you can invoke them again. Players score Mandates (objective cards) twice -- once when initially fulfilled and again at the game's end. This creates the tension of a race while also provides a framework for strategic planning through the very last turn. -description from the publisher
Cartref has 2 videos from 2 creators: 1 review and 1 how-to-play guide. They date from 2023 to January 2025.
To learn the rules, start with "Cartref tutorial (includes solo)" by Fervent Workshop - Chris Scaffidi, which runs 17 min.
For an opinion before you buy, start with "Is Cartref Places of Prosperity for you? A Quick Overview!" by ShelfClutter.
If you like it, try Tapestry: Fantasies & Futures, What Lies Beneath, Tomten and Gnomadic Gardeners, also by Chris Scaffidi.
2023Chris Scaffidi, Mike Young
1 - 5 players90 - 120 minHeavy weight
2023Chris Scaffidi
1 players60 - 120 minMedium weight
2023Chris Scaffidi
1 - 2 players10 - 20 minMedium weight
From BoardGameGeek:
You are a goblin land baron and member of the Hut Barons guild -- purveyors of magical real estate for weefolk, bigfolk, and everyone in between. Laid out in a square grid, the buildings of Cartref possess magical effects that vary depending on their residents. Use your wits and magic to amass the greatest wealth in the budding city of Cartref. On your turn, take 2 actions from the following options. (A) Build a new building and invoke the magic of adjacent goblin buildings. (B) Fulfill a guild Mandate and invoke the magic of bigfolk (human) buildings. (C) Impel the gnomes in one of your gnomish buildings to use their magic. (D) Purify the bad karma (pollution) emitted by the buildings so that you can invoke them again. Players score Mandates (objective cards) twice -- once when initially fulfilled and again at the game's end. This creates the tension of a race while also provides a framework for strategic planning through the very last turn. -description from the publisher
Designer
Chris Scaffidi
Artist
Chris Scaffidi
Publisher
Fervent Workshop
Mechanics