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Ark Nova
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Machiavelli
1940
Rules assistance for Machiavelli
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.6/5
Rules assistant for Machiavelli
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Machiavelli is a board game released in 1940 for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management.
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About the game
There are three main actions that the player can decide to play: Play a valid combination of cards on the table. Add one or more cards to an existing combination of cards. Draw a card from the deck if you don't play any cards. The defining feature of Machiavelli is being able to make changes to the combinations of cards already on the table. The current player, if desired, may reorganize the cards in order to make new combos that make it easier to play one or more cards in his hand. All new combinations must be valid, and players can not remove any cards already on the table. The player who manages to play all the cards in his hand wins the game. There is a fundamental difference from Rummy/Manipulation: there is no discarding, which makes it far more difficult to get rid of all cards.
Questions and answers
Machiavelli 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 Machiavelli 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 Machiavelli for ages 6 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.
Machiavelli has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Machiavelli 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 catalogue lists Machiavelli 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.