- BGG rank
- BGG #27,727
- BGG rating
- 5.4
8-28
- 3–6 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,982
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Lowdown
2016
Rules assistance for Lowdown
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Lowdown
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lowdown is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Colin Morgan and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Hidden Victory Points, and Score-and-Reset Game.
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About the game
Lowdown is a traditional card game in the Golf family. The object of the game is to have the lowest score. Players are dealt a 3x3 grid of face down cards. Players take turns drawing a card from the deck or discard pile to replace the cards in their grid. Each card has a number value, the higher the value the worse the card. Action cards such as Peek, Steal, and Swap allow players to rearrange their grid and take cards from other players. The hand ends once one player's cards are all face up. Then players add up the total value of their cards. Multiple hands are played, and once one player reaches 50 points, the player with the fewest points wins the game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Mattel, Inc.
Questions and answers
Lowdown supports 2–6 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 Lowdown is 30–60 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 Lowdown for ages 7 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.
Lowdown has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Lowdown belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Hidden Victory Points, and Score-and-Reset Game. 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 Lowdown are: Colin Morgan. 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 Lowdown 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.