- BGG rank
- BGG #6,601
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Drive
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,510
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Explosiv
1999
Rules assistance for Explosiv
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for Explosiv
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Explosiv is a board game released in 1999 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
Theme In this simple card game players are Chicago era mobsters trying to make off with briefcases full of stolen loot. But careful, some of those briefcases might explode... Aim of the game Collecting the most points by collecting "explosive cards" with high values. Game play There are four sets of 8 cards, each with values from 1-8. Each player gets a set of one colour. The explosive cards show briefcases with positive values from 1-8 on one side, and bombs with negative values from 1-8 on the other side. They are shuffled and a number of explosive cards equal to the number of players plus one are laid out, positive side up. The remaining explosive cards are set aside. Players try to win as many positive explosive cards as possible. They take turns placing one of their number cards in front of one of the explosive cards. Whoever places the highest total on each explosive cards gets to take that card. Rules for card placement: You cannot play another card directly on top of one of your own cards. Each number can only be played once per explosive card, i.e. if another player has already played the 4 on an explosive card, you cannot play a 4 on the same explosive. 8 is an exception; there is no restriction on how many 8s can be played on one explosive card. If there are already 7 number cards on an explosive card, a player can blow it up by adding an 8th card. The explosive card is then turned from its briefcase side to the bomb side, and the player who wins it gets negative points instead. A round ends when all players have played all their cards. Card values on each explosive card are added up, with the last card in a row earning its owner an extra two points. The player with the most points in one row wins that explosive card. Players get back their number cards and a new round starts with new explosive cards. The game ends when all explosive cards are gone or there aren't enough left to start another round. Players add up the points from all their positive and negative explosive cards. The player with the highest total wins the game.
Questions and answers
Explosiv supports 2–4 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 Explosiv is 20 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 Explosiv 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.
Explosiv has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Explosiv belongs to these categories: Card Game. 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 Explosiv 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 Explosiv 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.