- BGG rank
- BGG #21,299
- BGG rating
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Plant-Based Riot
- 2–5 players
- 10–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,137
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Old Bill
2022
Rules assistance for Old Bill
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 10–15 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Old Bill
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Old Bill is a board game released in 2022 for 3–4 players, 10–15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Mattox Shuler and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, and Matching.
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About the game
Build a den of thieves with matching pairs, but avoid Old Bill by outwitting and outwitting the other Masterminds! The player who gets the most matching pairs of thieves (two cards with the same picture) wins the game, but watch out for Old Bill! If you end up with him in your hand, he will remove one of your matches! Players draw cards and either play or trade them to make matches. Old Bill will reduce some of your matches. The game continues until a player takes the last card from the deck. This is now the last round, in which each player makes a final move. Players now count the number of pairs they have managed to make in their area for the score. If a player ends up with any number of old bills in their hand, they must discard one of their scoring pairs. The player with the most pairs of thieves wins the game! If there is a tie, add up the ranks across your paired pairs, counting the pair's rank only once, not both Thieves within a pair. Whoever has the highest total score wins! If there is still a tie, the win is split. You can also pull this box out for a classic game of Old Maid (with ole' Bill) or Memory with the whole family. – description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Keymaster Games
Questions and answers
Old Bill supports 3–4 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 Old Bill is 10–15 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 Old Bill 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.
Old Bill has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Old Bill belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, and Matching. 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 Old Bill are: Mattox Shuler. 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 Old Bill 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.