
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,252
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Dungeons of Doria
- 1–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2023

1980
Rules assistance for Citadel of Blood
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Citadel of Blood is a board game released in 1980 for 1–6 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Eric Lee Smith and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
Ares Magazine #5 Players form a party of Heroic Fantasy adventurers to journey into the Citadel of the evil mage "X the Unknown", gaining experience and power by fighting his monsters, and ultimately facing and defeating X himself. The Citadel map is randomly generated during the game by drawing and placing rooms and corridors printed on 1/2" die-cut counters.
Citadel of Blood supports 1–6 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 Citadel of Blood is 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 Citadel of Blood for ages 10 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.
Citadel of Blood has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Citadel of Blood belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Wargame. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. 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 Citadel of Blood are: Eric Lee Smith. 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 Citadel of Blood 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.