
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,379
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Merchant of Venus (Second Edition)
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2012

1980
Rules assistance for Assassin: The Final Game
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.
Assassin: The Final Game is a board game released in 1980 for 2–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Douglas Alan Byrne and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Commodity Speculation, and Pick-up and Deliver.
The object of the game is to arrange the assassination of all opposing players and thereby take control of world traffic in illegally obtained commodities (drugs, plutonium, munitions, oil, secrets, diamonds and gold). As you move around the board, you can buy and sell the commodities as indicated in each city. All cards cost the same but have varying resale values (some are even worthless). Complete sets are worth more, and some commodities are worth more than others. Assassination can be attempted if you land on one of the two Assassination squares, on the same square as your victim, or once per go around the board if you have enough money (500 k$, forfeiting your turn to do so). Hired Assassins come in three classes (A through C), the cheaper being less proficient in weaponry than the more expensive ones (A: five weapons; C: three weapons). Assassinations are resolved by drawing an Assassin card and comparing it with a Location card; each location lists permissible weapons --if the assassin isn't proficient with at least one of those, too bad. If he is, you draw a Weapon card to see if he managed to find/smuggle one of the needed weapons. Assuming the three cards show a match, the designated weapon(s) lists a number that needs to be matched on the dice. An assassinated player is eliminated. To defend, you may offer 1 M$ to the player who ordered the assassination just before the dice are rolled, or you may hire an assassin of your own as a bodyguard.
Assassin: The Final Game supports 2–4 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 Assassin: The Final Game is 90 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 Assassin: The Final Game 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.
Assassin: The Final Game has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Assassin: The Final Game belongs to these categories: Murder / Mystery and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Commodity Speculation, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Assassin: The Final Game are: Douglas Alan Byrne. 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 Assassin: The Final Game 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.