
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,570
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Ohne Furcht und Adel Sonderausgabe
- 2–7 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2012

Rules assistance for Citadels: The Dark City
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Citadels: The Dark City is an expansion for Citadels released in 2004 for 2–8 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Bruno Faidutti and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Open Drafting.
An expansion for the German edition of the game. It included all the elements featured in the US and the 2nd French edition (new characters and districts), and some more stuff. The Quarry allows you to build districts identical with districts you already have. The Imperial Treasury and the Fountain of Youth give you point bonuses at the end of the game. A bonus equal to the gold you own for the Imperial Treasury, a bonus equal to the number of purple buildings in your city for the Wish Fountain. This expansion is now provided with the 3rd Edition of Citadels.
Citadels: The Dark City supports 2–8 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 Citadels: The Dark City is 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 Citadels: The Dark City 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.
Citadels: The Dark City 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.
Citadels: The Dark City belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Open Drafting. 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 Citadels: The Dark City are: Bruno Faidutti. 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 Citadels: The Dark City as an expansion for Citadels. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Citadels to use it. Check that your edition of Citadels is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.