- BGG rating
- 10.0
Manipulate: Agents & Advisors
- 3–6 players
- 60–120 min
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,664
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Manipulate
2018
Rules assistance for Manipulate
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 60–150 min
- 13+
- Complexity 1.6/5
Rules assistant for Manipulate
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Manipulate is a board game released in 2018 for 3–6 players, 60–150 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Josh Smith and Henry Piechoczek and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Trading.
Expansions
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About the game
Description from the publisher: Manipulate is a card focused board game which is set in London for 3-6 players. Each player is power hungry and trying to make it in the big city. You win by having the most “Power” at the end of the game. But you need to watch out; everyone else has their own agenda too. You each have an identity; Media Mogul, Tech Entrepreneur, Politician, Criminal Mastermind, Corrupt Copper or Celebrity. Just like in real life you will all be colluding and stabbing each other in the back. Similarly, you will all have "Skeletons" in your closet, representing your scandalous and misspent past. Starting with a “chicken feed” salary of £100k, a few “Favours” in your pocket and ideas for new “Business Ventures” you build up a shady empire; from newspapers to apps and record labels to gambling rackets. As well as earning you more cash, each Venture gives you more Power while you control it. As a bonus, Ventures that are related and colour coded to your identity give you extra Power. For example, the Media Mogul will seek to own the Daily Hate Newspaper. As well as setting up Ventures, players take turns to make deals, extort enemies and use “Favours” to attack rivals or give themselves a boost. The game also allows for bluffing with Favours, which is one way to manipulate the situation to your advantage. They say the road to Power is paved with good intentions and some Favours offer a shadier path. If a Favour is illegal, like arms dealing or expenses fraud, playing this card will cause you to receive a "Skeleton" in your closet. These must be closely guarded as if uncovered, can cause you to lose Power. Build an empire and amass Power by manipulating your rivals...
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Walrus Ventures
Questions and answers
Manipulate supports 3–6 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 Manipulate is 60–150 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 Manipulate 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.
Manipulate 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.
Manipulate belongs to these categories: Card Game, Bluffing, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Trading. 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 Manipulate are: Josh Smith and Henry Piechoczek. 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 Manipulate 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.