
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Gorus Maximus: ManBearPig
- 1–8 players
- 20–45 min
- 2019

2018
Rules assistance for Gorus Maximus
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gorus Maximus is a board game released in 2018 for 1–8 players, 20–45 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Conor McGoey and its main mechanics are Team-Based Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Trick-taking.
Gorus Maximus is a bloody trick-taking game of gladiatorial combat in which the trump suit can change mid-trick! The game can be played "player vs. player" or in teams. Dispatch your strongest gladiators and most ferocious beasts to earn crowd favor! Match the rank of the last gladiator played, and the trump suit changes immediately! Players are dealt a hand of ten gladiator cards and must contribute one gladiator to each bout (trick). There is a preferred school (trump suit) and the strongest gladiator from this school wins the bout. If no preferred gladiator entered the fight, then the strongest initiating gladiator (suit called for) wins. Players must follow the initiating school if possible, or they may "challenge" by matching the strength of the last gladiator played, immediately changing the preferred school to that of their gladiator! Players compete to collect gladiators with positive crowd favor and avoid those with negative favor. The player with the highest favor at the end of the round earns 1 crowd support. The first player to earn 3 crowd support has won the support of the masses and earns the title: Champion of Gorus Maximus!
Gorus Maximus supports 1–8 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 Gorus Maximus is 20–45 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 Gorus Maximus for ages 13 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.
Gorus Maximus has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
Gorus Maximus belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Team-Based Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Trick-taking. 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 Gorus Maximus are: Conor McGoey. 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 Gorus Maximus 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.