- BGG rank
- BGG #21,498
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Land Grab
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1974
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,783
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Face Off
1974
Rules assistance for Face Off
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Face Off
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Face Off is a board game released in 1974 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Earl Doherty and its main mechanics are Trading, Auction / Bidding, and Roll / Spin and Move.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,290
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Breakout!
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1975
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,830
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Project KGB: The Double Agent
- 4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1973
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,841
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Disaster
- 2–6 players
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1979
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,676
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Project CIA: The Secret Formula
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1973
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,421
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Monopoly: Major League Baseball
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #724
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Archipelago
- 2–5 players
- 30–240 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,520
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Executive Decision
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1971
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,576
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Master of Economy
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,161
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Star Trek: Galactic Enterprises
- 3–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,418
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Playboss
- 3–9 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 1969
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,955
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Fischmarkt
- 3–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2006
About the game
A slapstick game of hockey management (endorsed by Howie Meeker, a Canadian hockey personality of the time). Everybody knows that professional hockey game is won or lost on the ice, right? Wrong. The game that starts when the referee's whistle sounds is only half the story. See that character on the end clutching the bankroll? He's the team manager. What you don't get to see is the game HE plays-and it's every bit as tough as the one on the ice. Now's your chance to get the inside story. In Face Off, you manage your own hockey franchise. That means you have to scramble for league Superstars, trade players, and try to put together the strongest team you can --without running out of cash. It means you have to cope with temperamental players, broken contracts, and unexpected expenses. Of course, you get to manage your team through a season of hockey games, to see how your planning and conniving pays off! And who wins the playoffs? Usually the strongest team --but it's up to you to make it that way. This game deserves to be better known; the theme is rather under-exploited and Waddingtons' treatment hits just the right tongue-in-cheek note here. If you liked Avalon Hill's Slapshot, you'll like Face Off. The Canadian edition is bilingual with a two-sided board (English on one side, French on the other).
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Waddingtons
Questions and answers
Face Off 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 Face Off is 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 Face Off 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.
Face Off 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.
Face Off belongs to these categories: Negotiation and Sports. Its main mechanics are Trading, Auction / Bidding, and Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Face Off are: Earl Doherty. 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 Face Off 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.