
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,601
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Drive
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2003

2006
Rules assistance for Diabolo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Diabolo is a board game released in 2006 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
It’s a thin line between good and evil, and you’re going to have to find the right balance and avoid ending up In Limbo! Play your cards on either the good or evil side of each of the five colors, as you tip the balance towards good on some colors and bad on others. However, since you only score on the cards left in your hand, you’ll need to carefully weigh the consequences of each of your choices. With a lot of strategy and a little luck, you can do yourself a world of good even if things heat up for your opponents.
Diabolo supports 3–5 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 Diabolo is 30 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 Diabolo for ages 8 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.
Diabolo 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.
Diabolo belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. 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 Diabolo are: Michael Schacht. 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 Diabolo 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.