- BGG rank
- BGG #23,595
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Operation: Maccabee
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,329
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Maccabees
2009
Rules assistance for Maccabees
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Maccabees
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Maccabees is a board game released in 2009 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Flaster Siskin and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Betting and Bluffing.
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About the game
This game is the first of a series of games which uses a dreidel in lieu of a d4. Like the traditional game Dreidel, it is themed for the Jewish holiday of Chanuka. Each move taken and cards added to or taken from a common pool for any spin are related to the traditional dreidel game. Movement can be modified by use of cards. That movement is round the six points of a star or magen David, and an action is associated with each space on the board. The object of the game is to be the first player to fill the eight slots of a menorah with candles. Certain actions can gain a player one or more candles. One can even try to take candles from another player, but if the attempt fails, one may lose candles to the player targeted instead.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- FlasterVenture LLC
Questions and answers
Maccabees 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 Maccabees is 30 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 Maccabees 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.
Maccabees 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.
Maccabees belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Betting and Bluffing. 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 Maccabees are: Flaster Siskin. 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 Maccabees 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.