
- BGG rank
- BGG #726
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Skyrise
- 2–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2024

2018
Rules assistance for Masque of the Red Death
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 4 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Masque of the Red Death is a board game released in 2018 for 4–7 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Adam Wyse and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Memory.
As nobles at a magnificent masquerade ball, you and your friends all vie to improve your social standing. Gossip flies, rumors swirl, and with each chime of the ebony clock, hearts fill with dread and despair. As midnight approaches, you begin to realize that something is amiss. Based on Edgar Allen Poe's sinister story, Masque of the Red Death pits you and up to six of your friends against each other as you hobnob with the Prince. But disaster strikes at midnight. You must balance your actions carefully between currying the Prince's favor and discovering which rooms the Red Death will visit. After all, having the highest social standing matters only if you survive...
Masque of the Red Death supports 4–7 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 Masque of the Red Death is 60–90 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 Masque of the Red Death for ages 14 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.
Masque of the Red Death has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Masque of the Red Death belongs to these categories: Deduction and Novel-based. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Memory. 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 Masque of the Red Death are: Adam Wyse. 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 Masque of the Red Death 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.