- BGG rank
- BGG #3,587
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Bazaar
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1967
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,480
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Focus
1963
Rules assistance for Focus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Focus
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Focus is a board game released in 1963 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Sid Sackson and its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
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About the game
Focus (or Domination) is a Sid Sackson abstract strategy game in which players attempt to make moves and capture pieces in such a manner that their opponent(s) have no moves remaining. On a turn a player may move a piece or stack of pieces based on the number of pieces that comprise it as well as the number of pieces to be moved (e.g. 1-piece = 1 space, 3 piece stack = 3 spaces.) When a stack grows over five pieces, pieces from the bottom of the stack are removed to bring the stack back down to five. Pieces of a player's own color that are taken by that player are reserved to re-enter the game at a later time; pieces of the opponent's color are kept as captured. Reserved pieces can be entered on a turn in any space on the board in place of making a move of pieces; strategic use of reserved pieces can make the game by utilizing them to capture stacks controlled by opponent(s). Sackson includes the game In his 1969 book, A Gamut of Games. The book makes a reference to the Whitman Publishing Company production of 1965, along with reporting that the two-handed version was first described in the October 1963 issue of Scientific American Magazine.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Parker Brothers
- Estrela
- Nilco S.A.
- Milton Bradley
- Spear's Games
- KOSMOS
- Whitman
- Random House, Inc.
- WOSI "Wspólna Sprawa"
- Mondadori Giochi
- Hugendubel Verlag
- Labo Market
- Daekor Designs
Questions and answers
Focus 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 Focus 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 Focus for ages 10 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.
Focus has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Focus belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are 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 Focus are: Sid Sackson. 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 Focus 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.