- BGG rank
- BGG #4,193
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Dragoon
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,160
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Life Siphon
2019
Rules assistance for Life Siphon
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Life Siphon
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Life Siphon is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Jake Given and Zach Given and its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
Dragons have taken over the surface, forcing humans underground. During explorations, you and your fellow humans discover a box with an orange glowing eye on the outside. The words DO NOT OPEN are carved on the sides. Of course you open it...ONLY TO BE INSTANTLY CURSED! The only escape is to take out your closest friend with your new cursed powers to summon Familiars and cast spells at the cost of your own life. Each player's goal in Life Siphon is to defeat the player to their left, and the game ends when the first player drops to zero health, meaning you must plan your strategy to be effective offensively against one player while defending against another. Since everything costs your own health, the heavier your offense, the more vulnerable you are. You may even find yourself aiding your attacker to give you the opportunity to make the killing blow.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Lay Waste Games
Questions and answers
Life Siphon 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 Life Siphon is 20–40 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 Life Siphon 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.
Life Siphon 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.
Life Siphon belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Medieval. 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 Life Siphon are: Jake Given and Zach Given. 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 Life Siphon 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.