- BGG rating
- 6.3
Nightmare II
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,221
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Nightmare
1991
Rules assistance for Nightmare
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.8/5
Rules assistant for Nightmare
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Nightmare is a board game released in 1991 for 3–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Phillip Tanner and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Elapsed Real Time Ending.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Nightmare III
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1992
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Nightmare IV
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1993
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,012
- BGG rating
- 4.3
Dare!
- 2–12 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #843
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Escape: The Curse of the Temple
- 1–5 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,778
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Quest for Shangri-La
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,536
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Escape from Colditz
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1973
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,812
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Weirdwood Manor
- 1–5 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,000
- BGG rating
- 7.0
FUSE
- 1–5 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,302
- BGG rating
- 7.5
FUSE Countdown
- 1–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,684
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Firefighters on Duty
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,307
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,555
- BGG rating
- 7.0
A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game
- 2–8 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,728
- BGG rating
- 8.2
A Touch of Evil: 10 Year Anniversary Edition
- 1–8 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,214
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Death Angel
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1998
About the game
NIGHTMARE The Video Board Game! Nightmare/Atmosfear is a board game controlled by a video tape. It is a race against time and the game's host, The Gatekeeper. The aim of the game is to collect 6 of your character's keys and then race to the center of the board; The Nightmare Square. If the tape reaches 60 minutes The Gatekeeper Wins! Expanded by: Nightmare II Nightmare III Nightmare IV Similar to: Party Mania In 2022, a 30th Anniversary Edition was published with streaming (or downloadable) video replacing the original VCR cassette. It is "A faithful reproduction of the original product released in 1991. Guaranteed to have you jump, laugh and scream just like they did in the 90s!" This special 30th Anniversary Kickstarter edition of Nightmare/Atmosfear not only pays homage to the origins of this unique video-meets-boardgame experience, it also expands on the original with deluxe game play extras and new custom pieces made especially for this campaign. We are not only re-creating the original game from 30 years ago, we are also refining and improving the original with new playing pieces, extra cards, and incorporating the crazy Baron Samedi expansion. In addition we have commissioned an entirely new and original backstory of The Gatekeeper and his mission on and under the earth called "The Lore of the Other Side" - this will be penned as a graphic novel.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Schmidt Spiele
- Borras Plana S.A.
- Spear's Games
- Clementoni
- Chieftain Products
- Habourdin International
- AS Company
- A Couple 'A Cowboys
Questions and answers
Nightmare 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 Nightmare is 60 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 Nightmare for ages 12 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.
Nightmare has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
Nightmare belongs to these categories: Party Game, Dice, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move, Dice Rolling, and Elapsed Real Time Ending. 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 Nightmare are: Phillip Tanner. 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 Nightmare 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.