
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,123
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Sniper!
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1973

1979
Rules assistance for Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits is a board game released in 1979 for 1–4 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
(from the instruction manual) Demons is a game of demonic conjuration and treasure hunting for one to four players based on the medieval and ancient manuscripts comprising the "Lamegeton." The players take the roles of magicians questing after treasure in medieval Armenia. The "mortal powers" of Armenia automatically pursue the magicians whose major defense is their ability to conjure fearsome demons. (paraphrased from the Historical Notes section of the instruction manual) The basic story of the key of Solomon holds that when Solomon was building the first temple in Jerusalem, one of his workers was seized by an evil spirit. The archangel Michael appeared and delivered to Solomon a magical ring which gave him the power to command all spirits. Solomon commanded the spirits into a brass vessel, which he sealed and cast into a lake in Babylonia. Solomon had foreseen the possibility of the demons being released again and had prepared a testament detailing the various rituals and instruments that could be prepared by any person to command the spirits once more. This power was to have been used for curing disease and preventing harm, but when printed examples appeared again in the 17th century the emphasis had switched to the finding of treasure and personal gain by the magician instead.
Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits supports 1–4 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 Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits is 60–120 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 Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits 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.
Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits are: Jim Dunnigan. 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 Demons: The Game of Evil Spirits 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.