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Bad Apples
2025
Rules assistance for Bad Apples
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–6 players
- 45–60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Bad Apples
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bad Apples is a board game released in 2025 for 4–6 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by KC Schrimpl and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
The goal of Bad Apples is to be the player with the most points after ten rounds. Each player starts with a set of apples and bidding tokens. The numbers on the apples represent the point values. Each round, every player discretely puts one of their apples into the burlap sack. These apples will be collectively auctioned off to the highest bidder. Moving clockwise, players either raise the bid using their bidding tokens or pass. Every time a player passes, that player receives a small amount of bidding tokens as a consolation. Next, an apple is withdrawn from the burlap sack for everyone to see. The remaining players now have more insight to determine the potential point total of all the submitted apples. The last player remaining wins the auction and collects all the apples. —description from the designer
Questions and answers
Bad Apples supports 4–6 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 Bad Apples is 45–60 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 Bad Apples for ages 14 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.
Bad Apples has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Bad Apples belongs to these categories: Bluffing. Its main mechanics are 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 Bad Apples are: KC Schrimpl. 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 Bad Apples 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.