
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,964
- BGG rating
- 6.8
I'm the Boss!
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1994

1984
Rules assistance for Metropolis
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Metropolis is a board game released in 1984 for 2–5 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Sid Sackson.
One of game designer Sid Sackson's greatest contributions to the negotiation genre, this game has players trying to construct the best buildings in a rapidly growing city. The map is a collection of city blocks broken into smaller properties. Each turn, players choose one property and try to work out deal for placing a new structure on the board. The value of each building is determined by the type of buildings in the same block, so both a school and an apartment building receive bonuses for existing together.
Metropolis supports 2–5 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 Metropolis is 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 Metropolis for ages 16 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.
Metropolis has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Metropolis belongs to these categories: Negotiation and City Building. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Metropolis and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Metropolis are: Sid Sackson. 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 Metropolis 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.