- BGG rank
- BGG #224
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Modern Art
- 3–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,776
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Inferno
2005
Rules assistance for Inferno
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
Rules assistant for Inferno
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Inferno is a board game released in 2005 for 3–7 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
In Inferno, players are trying to play as many cards as possible to a stack in the center of the table. But be warned! If a player is unable to play a card, they must take all the cards in the stack! Each player receives 12 cards. The starting player plays and announces a color and a value. Players, in turn order, must then add a card, which must be alike either in the color or in the value as the first out-played. If the player is unable (or does not want) to play a card to match, they must take all the cards played thus far (and then start a new round). In the end, all the red cards in hand are worth their face value and all the rest of the cards are worth one point. After a number of rounds, the player with the fewest points wins.
Editions
- InfernoenPiatnik2005
- Zupa z trupaplEgmont Polska2024
- Monster ChefesFractal Juegos2022
- インフェルノテンデイズゲームズ (TendaysGames)2016
- インフェルノ日本語版テンデイズゲームズ (TendaysGames)2014
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Piatnik
- Fractal Juegos
- Egmont Polska
- テンデイズゲームズ (TendaysGames)
Questions and answers
Inferno supports 3–7 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 Inferno 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 Inferno 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.
Inferno has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Inferno 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 Inferno are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Inferno 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.