Carnac

About this board game

Carnac is a fast abstract strategy game for two players, with matches lasting around 20 minutes. Players compete to create the most valuable collection of Dolmens across a shared board.

On each turn, take a Megalith from the common reserve and place it on the board in a standing position. Each Megalith is formed from two joined cubes, with one color on three faces and the other color on the remaining three. After placement, the opponent’s choice can determine how play continues: they may tip the Megalith over, or play passes on when it cannot be tipped over.

A square belongs to the player whose color is showing on the upper face of the Megalith covering it. A Dolmen is a group of at least three adjacent squares belonging to the same player. Victory goes to the player with the most Dolmens; if the number of Dolmens is tied, the player with the largest Dolmen wins.

• Take and place a Megalith from the shared reserve.
• Use the upper face to claim covered squares in your color.
• Build multiple separated Dolmens rather than one undivided group.
• Try to connect your opponent’s Dolmens to reduce their scoring potential.

Having more Megaliths showing your color is not automatically better. A single giant Dolmen may be less useful than several separate groups, so every placement involves a balance between expansion and separation.

Carnac can be played on different board sizes, with each size encouraging different strategies for pursuing victory. Its simple placement rules and opponent-influenced turns create a focused contest where the shape of the board and the arrangement of each color matter throughout the game.