- BGG rank
- BGG #24,942
- BGG rating
- 5.8
TOKYO COIN LAUNDRY
- 1–6 players
- 5–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,248
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Curses!
2001
Rules assistance for Curses!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 25 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Curses!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Curses! is a board game released in 2001 for 3–6 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Brian Tinsman and its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Acting.
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About the game
Each player starts the party game Curses! by drawing one Curse card and placing it face-up on the table. What? Curses? How can this be a party?! Ah, but these Curses are fun, not malicious, something along the lines of "You can't bend your elbows" or "You must declare eternal love to anyone who rings the bell during this game". After that, each turn in Curses! the active player takes two actions in this order: Draw a Challenge card. This card presents you with an action you must perform – a role to act out, a story to tell, an opinion to explain. Draw a Curse card and give it to another player. "You, bark like a dog whenever the player on your right reads a card!" So where's the game? You must obey the Curses placed upon you at all times – and if someone notices that you're not barking or declaring eternal love or doing whatever else it is you're supposed to be doing, then that player rings the central bell and reveals you for a louse and a nogoodnik. As a penalty, you must turn the Curse card you violated face down. And while you might think that lifting a Curse is good, break three Curses and you're out of the game. Eventually only one person will remain, and this Curse-loving looney wins the game!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Cocktail Games
- Moonster Games
- Play All Day Games
Questions and answers
Curses! supports 3–6 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 Curses! is 25 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 Curses! for ages 12 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.
Curses! has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Curses! belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Acting. 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 Curses! are: Brian Tinsman. 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 Curses! 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.