What Faraway Is
Faraway is a short tableau-building card game for two to six players. Over eight rounds, you lay out a row of Region cards from left to right. At the end, you score those cards in reverse order, from the last card played back to the first. That backwards scoring is what makes the game distinctive: cards you place later often decide whether earlier cards score well.
Components
Sources list roughly 68 Region cards and 45 Sanctuary cards, plus a score pad. Exact contents can vary with the edition, so check your box.
Setup
- Shuffle the Region cards and deal each player a starting hand. The basic game uses three cards; an advanced option deals five and has you keep three.
- Set the Sanctuary deck aside, shuffled.
- Make the face-up Region display that players refill from, as described in the rulebook.
How a Round Works
Each of the eight rounds follows the same steps.
- Explore: Everyone secretly picks one Region card from hand and places it face down. All reveal at once and add the card to the right end of their row.
- Find sanctuaries: If your new card has a higher number than your previous card, you gain sanctuaries. The number you draw is based on the map icons visible in your row, plus one, according to common summaries.
- Refill: You then take a new Region card, from the display, to get ready for the next round. Lower-numbered cards generally choose first, so the number you play also affects your options.
Because play is simultaneous, timing and card numbers matter more than they first appear.
Sanctuaries and Clues
Sanctuaries are extra cards you can add to your row when you meet the condition. Clues, shown on some cards, are one of the symbols that can help you earn better sanctuary choices. Playing cards in ascending order tends to give you more chances to find sanctuaries, so a plan for your sequence is useful.
Scoring in Reverse
After round eight, flip your row face down. Starting with the last card, reveal and score each card in turn, working back to the first. Most cards score based on what is currently visible, including the cards you have already revealed, so the cards you played last are often worth little themselves but supply symbols that earlier cards need.
The player with the most points wins. Check the official rulebook for tiebreakers.
Tips for Your First Game
- Look at what symbols a card needs, not only what it gives.
- Remember that the last cards you play support the earlier ones.
- Do not overspend on a high number early if it cuts your sanctuary chances later.
Related Reading
If you enjoy short, tableau-focused play, the drafting game in our Planted rules guide is a good companion. The calm theme of Parks may also appeal.