- BGG rating
- 6.9
Monster Derby Expansion I
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,495
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Monster Derby
1994
Rules assistance for Monster Derby
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 20–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Monster Derby
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Monster Derby is a board game released in 1994 for 2–8 players, 20–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jeff Siadek and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers.
Expansions
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About the game
A race game between eight fantasy monsters selected at random from a deck of 25 (e.g., medusa, cyclops, vampire, zombie, centaur, dragon, griffin, djinni). Players get secret agendas, listing the order they want the monsters to finish according to colored mover bases for the cards. On each player's turn, they move a monster toward the finish line. All monsters move forward a die roll but if you are moving a monster that doesn't score high for you, you can waste its movement by zig-zagging or wandering into non-native terrain. Each monster must move once per round, so even those that no one likes will get moved (and present bluffing opportunities for clever players). A monster can attack once per move -- a great way to slow down a monster you don't like is to beat it unconscious. Each monster is rated for the number of custom attack dice (marked with just 0s and 1s) they throw to find damage. Monsters also have special powers, some active all the time and others that only kick in when a custom "wacky die" shows sword or shield icons. The game includes reversible mapboards with different terrain patterns (brush, rock, water, etc.) to create a wide variety of maps. Monsters move into their native terrains as if they were blank squares and get a defensive bonus as well. Some monsters can fly, ignoring terrain except where they land. The race ends when three monsters have crossed the finish line. Everybody counts up the points listed on their secret agendas for those three monsters. Example: the dragon, doppleganger, and hare finish in that order. My agenda says dragon 8, doppleganger 5, and hare 3 so I score 16 points; the monsters I had listed for positions 7, 6, 4, 2 and 1 didn't finish. Note that this description is for the 2014 edition of the game. The original used regular dice, counters rather than cards, scored all eight finishers and had players set their own agendas (both of which stretched out the game considerably).
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gorilla Games
- Gamesmiths
Questions and answers
Monster Derby supports 2–8 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 Monster Derby is 20–45 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 Monster Derby 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.
Monster Derby has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Monster Derby belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Racing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers. 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 Monster Derby are: Jeff Siadek. 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 Monster Derby 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.