
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,012
- BGG rating
- 4.3
Dare!
- 2–12 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1988

Rules assistance for Nightmare IV
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Nightmare IV is an expansion for Nightmare released in 1993 for 3–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Phillip Tanner and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Dice Rolling.
Once bitten, twice shy! Take a turn for the worst and sink your fangs into another 60 minutes of HI-FI fright with The Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory! - the Sequel to The Video Board GameNightmare that's literally shocking the world! The Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory is one of the most murderous Vampires in the history of horror. Born in Hungary in 1560, Bathory killed more than 650 young women, and took early morning baths in their blood in a quest for eternal beauty. Imprisoned in her own castle for her perverse crimes, she died at 64. Or did she? Now, it's not just a race against time but a game of sheer survival as this bat out of hell bares her teeth in the most challenging sequel in the Nightmare series. No game ever plays the same twice! Press Play and scream the night away with new sets of Time and Fate cards plus additional Black Rose cards and an interactive Book of Rules. Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Vampire. Nightmare IV... to love and perish forever!
Nightmare IV 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 IV 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 IV 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.
Nightmare IV 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.
Nightmare IV belongs to these categories: Party Game, Dice, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Dice Rolling. 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 IV 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 IV as an expansion for Nightmare. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Nightmare to use it. Check that your edition of Nightmare is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.