
- BGG rank
- BGG #728
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Coup
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2012

2021
Rules assistance for Cocktail
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cocktail is a board game released in 2021 for 2–9 players, 15–45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Matías Castillo and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Set Collection.
In Cocktail, you are members of the same family who are expecting a big inheritance. To make sure you are the one to walk away with the fortune, you try to prove your honor while at the same time poisoning the rest of your family. Players place cards facedown on the table, either in front of themselves or other players, while announcing what the card shows: wine, cheese, caviar, olives, for instance. But you could try to sneak in poison as well. When caught lying, you collect dishonor points which count against your score. You can also exchange cards with others, unseen. When you decide to take your drink, you shuffle and flip open the cards in front of you, gaining points for expensive food, but losing health if poison was among them. The most honorable survivor after three rounds wins the game.
Cocktail supports 2–9 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 Cocktail is 15–45 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 Cocktail 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.
Cocktail has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Cocktail belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Set Collection. 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 Cocktail are: Matías Castillo. 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 Cocktail 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.