
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,775
- BGG rating
- 6.4
DIG
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2017

2024
Rules assistance for MAD
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
MAD is a board game released in 2024 for 3–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Chris Handy (I) and John Brieger and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Events.
In this trick-taking game, winning a Trick isn’t always desired because each card has a ‘Science’ (+) and ‘Madness’ (-) side that could challenge the balance of players’ Score Piles. Trick winners take an opponent’s card into one of their matching Score Piles - 2 suits of which are imbalanced from the start - with the goal to reduce each suit to 0. The lowest total score wins! —description from the publisher
MAD supports 3–4 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 MAD is 15 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 MAD for ages 10 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.
MAD has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
MAD belongs to these categories: Card Game, Science Fiction, and Math. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Events. 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 MAD are: Chris Handy (I) and John Brieger. 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 MAD 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.