
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,038
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Gauntlet of Fools
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2012

2014
Rules assistance for Aristo-Maze
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Aristo-Maze is a board game released in 2014 for 3–4 players, 80 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by BakaFire and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Auction / Bidding.
Legends are that a long time ago an emperor built a secret catacomb that housed all the treasures that he had collected. No one knew where this catacomb lay, and it remained as such until three hundred years later when the news of its discovery was delivered by the Imperial Capital to the public. In Aristo-Maze, players are influential aristocrats who are now given the chance to seize some of the legendary loot for themselves. You must hire teams of adventurers and send them into the dangerous trap-filled catacombs to bring back your fortune. The game is played over three rounds, with each round following these phases: Providing Phase: Players reset the round and receive new funds. Investigation "Inquiry" Phase: Players bid on which catacomb floor they wish to take a peek at; if they are the highest bidder, they can look at what lurks in that area. Recruiting "Organization" Phase: Players secretly bid on which characters they wish to recruit to become part of their party. Exploration Phase: Players secretly choose how far they wish to delve into the dungeon, then resolve the effects of the monsters/traps they encounter which will give them VPs if they survive. Whoever is able to gain enough VPs from surviving their encounters is victorious!
Aristo-Maze supports 3–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Aristo-Maze is 80 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Aristo-Maze for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Aristo-Maze has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Aristo-Maze belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Auction / Bidding. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Aristo-Maze are: BakaFire. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Aristo-Maze as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.