Tapestry
Tapestry explained: advance on science, technology, exploration and military tracks, build a capital city, use asymmetric civilizations and score income turns.
Guide an asymmetric civilization by advancing along four development tracks, earning technologies, exploring the map and shaping a personal capital city.
Players take income turns at different times, so the game rewards judging when to keep advancing and when to lock in resources and scoring.
Why We Love It
Tapestry gives each player freedom to specialize. The four advancement tracks can support very different civilizations, while the capital-city puzzle converts progress into a spatial scoring challenge.
About Tapestry
On most turns you pay resources to move one space on a science, technology, exploration or military track and resolve its benefit. Income turns generate resources, activate civilization effects and score parts of your engine.
The current printing includes revised civilization mats intended to improve balance across the asymmetric factions.
Game at a Glance
Advance
Choose among four tracks and pay increasingly demanding resource costs.
Develop Tech
Technology cards mature as your civilization progresses.
Build the Capital
Fit landmark buildings into a personal city grid for bonuses and points.
Time Income
Income turns refresh resources and score your evolving engine.
Who Tapestry suits
Players who like asymmetric civilizations, engine building, advancement tracks and a strategic game with comparatively little direct conflict.
Rules overview
Each civilization begins with a unique ability. On a normal turn, advance one space on one of four tracks, pay its cost and gain the listed benefit. Track effects can add map tiles, technologies, buildings and landmarks. Instead of advancing, you may take an income turn, which progresses your era, activates tapestry and civilization effects, scores relevant elements and replenishes resources. The game ends individually after a civilization completes its final income turn.
Key decisions
Editorial analysis: The core decision is opportunity cost across the four tracks. Strong play usually comes from identifying which track benefits reinforce your civilization and technologies, while preserving enough resource flexibility to exploit unusually efficient spaces elsewhere.
Common questions
Does Tapestry have solo play?
Yes. The base game includes an official Automa solo system.
Do all players take income at the same time?
No. Each player decides independently when to take an income turn.
Are civilizations asymmetric?
Yes. Civilizations have different abilities, and the current printing includes revised civilization mats.
Related games
Learn Tapestry in depth
Sources and edition notes
Facts checked September 17, 2026. This guide reflects the current printing information published by Stonemaier Games.