- BGG rank
- BGG #3,904
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Neko Syndicate
2024
Rules assistance for Neko Syndicate
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 20–40 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Neko Syndicate
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Neko Syndicate is a board game released in 2024 for 1–4 players, 20–40 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Dani Garcia and its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Pick-up and Deliver, and Action Points.
About the game
The sushi production and distribution in the city of Mininogata is controlled by several feline clans. Leading those clans is the Kumichō, supreme leader of the syndicate, but he is now an old cat and soon will have to decide who will succeed him. In Neko Syndicate you will lead one of those clans and you will prove the Kumichō who deserves to inherit his position, building an efficient chain of command and fulfilling the great amount of sushi demanded by the population. In addition, you will be rewarded if you are the fastest to achieve the missions by the Kumichō. During the game you will build and walk down a card’s pyramidal structure which represents both a city district under your control and your chain of command. This pyramidal structure will be used as a board and action tree which will allow you to cook sushi and transport it into different delivery zones, trying to achieve the missions by the supreme leader. You will have 15 turns to obtain as many prestige points as possible to please the supreme leader Kumichō and, therefore, win the game. Neko Syndicate is a "Thinky-filler" by Dani García, featuring an innovative tableau building mechanic where cards are both the actions and the goals to achieve: fast set-up, simultaneous play, low interaction and brain burner in a 30 minutes easy to play hard to master beautiful game. —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- 25th Century Games
- Combo Games (II)
Questions and answers
Neko Syndicate supports 1–4 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 Neko Syndicate is 20–40 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 Neko Syndicate 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.
Neko Syndicate has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Neko Syndicate belongs to these categories: Animals and Mafia. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building, Pick-up and Deliver, and Action Points. 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 Neko Syndicate are: Dani Garcia. 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 Neko Syndicate 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.