- BGG rating
- 6.5
Dreadful Circus: Coachmen Mini Expansion
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,838
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Dreadful Circus
2021
Rules assistance for Dreadful Circus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Dreadful Circus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dreadful Circus is a board game released in 2021 for 4–8 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Bruno Faidutti and Joanna Kijanka and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Betting and Bluffing.
Expansions
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About the game
No longer do you anxiously await the arrival of the wicked — for they have just arrived! In the dead of night, the gloom rolls in. Melodies whisper in slow rhythms as children wake from their slumber. Leaping from their beds, they rush to their parents and startle them awake. The mix of fear and excitement fills the room. The lure of exotic sweets wafts in on the warm summer wind. The lives of this dull, small town are revitalized with the anticipation of this dreadful circus. Dreadful Circus is a set-collection card game in which players try to create the most successful circus! The game comes with an unique twist: Over the course of the game, players buy cards that have special final scoring rules. As the game progresses and more cards are gained, each player develops their very own final scoring rules. No game is the same, and no player at the table scores the same way. —description from publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Pegasus Spiele
- Maldito Games
- Portal Games
- CMON Global Limited
- Cranio Creations
- Bannan Games
Questions and answers
Dreadful Circus supports 4–8 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 Dreadful Circus is 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 Dreadful Circus 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.
Dreadful Circus has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Dreadful Circus belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Betting and Bluffing. 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 Dreadful Circus are: Bruno Faidutti and Joanna Kijanka. 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 Dreadful Circus 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.