- BGG rank
- BGG #9,884
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Minos
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,859
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Chicago
1986
Rules assistance for Chicago
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 90–120 min
- 16+
- Complexity 2.1/5
Rules assistant for Chicago
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chicago is a board game released in 1986 for 2–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by H. Jean Vanaise and its main mechanics are Area Movement and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
extrapolated from the English translation of the rules. Chicago is played in a city in which the bars and casinos are being fought over. The winner is the person who succeeds at one of the following three goals, and can stay that way up through the end of a game phase. - The owner of 3 of the 4 casinos, - The owner of all 8 bars in the central square, - The owner of 5 thugs with 4 rings each. If no one manages to reach a goal by the end of the 24th turn, the winner is the player with the biggest fortune. The board shows a map with streets and buildings. Each Quarter has the same layout, with the central place in the middle of the board. Bars and Casinos: Each bar is a space. Each Quarter has a casino and 22 bars of different values but each Quarter has an overall value of 72,000. Players can use thugs to help control a Quarter A game of Chicago runs at most 4 phases (a-d). In each phase, there are 6 rounds. End of a phase: At the end of each set of 6 game turns, a phase ends. All players receive the value of bars and casinos they own. Each player counts the value of their buildings marked with their chips. The player then gets that value in cash. Game End: The game ends when a player has achieved one of the goals at the end of a phase. If the game makes it to the end of phase D, and no one has reached a goal, the game ends. Players receive income from bars and casinos, then the player with the most money wins. The value of thugs is added to cash on hand to determine the winner.
Designers
Publishers
- Otto Maier Verlag
- Playmix
- Flying Turtle Games
Questions and answers
Chicago 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 Chicago is 90–120 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 Chicago for ages 16 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.
Chicago has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Chicago belongs to these categories: Fighting and Mafia. Its main mechanics are Area Movement and Area Majority / Influence. 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 Chicago are: H. Jean Vanaise. 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 Chicago 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.