
- BGG rank
- BGG #15
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 30–150 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2024
- Ask about the rules

Rules assistance for Ninety-Nine
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ninety-Nine is a board game for 2–13 players and 20 minutes per game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management.
[This adding game is not to be confused with the trick-taking game, Ninety-Nine.] From David Parlett's The Penguin Book of Card Games: Said to be a Gypsy game. Deal three cards each and stack the rest face down. Play goes to the left, but may change. Each in turn plays a face up card to the table, announces the total value of all cards played so far, and draws a replacement from stock. Cards count as follows: ace to nine: increase the value of the pile by the pip count of the card ten: reduce the value by ten jack, queen: the value stays the same king: the value is set to 98 The total may not exceed 98. The first player to be unable to play, loses a life. The first to lose three lives, loses the game.
Ninety-Nine supports 2–13 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 Ninety-Nine is 20 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.
Ninety-Nine has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Ninety-Nine belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management. 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 catalogue lists Ninety-Nine 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.